BANDON Community First Responders (BCFR) have attended over 80 calls since its formation last December.

The members are trained and accredited by the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and can respond to 999 calls for cardiac arrest, chest pain, choking and strokes within a 10-mile radius of Bandon.

Secretary Marion McSweeney said the group of almost 20 volunteers officially came online last December, but it took almost two years to set it up.

‘Our volunteers had to undergo training on how to use a defibrilator. We treat chest pains, choking and strokes,’ she said. ‘When someone collapses and they ring 999 we are then contacted via app from the National Ambulance Service and we will respond to the call.’

Fundraising has also played an integral part in the group’s formation.

‘We started fundraising last year and all the AEDs in Bandon had to be replaced and the support had been phenomenal from the community,’ revealed Marian. ‘We have been able to replace all the pre-existing defibrillators around the town with a view to adding three more in the coming weeks.’

BCFR have seven defibrillators which they carry in their emergency kits.

Marian explained: ‘Since December we have attended over 80 calls. We are always looking for volunteers to boost numbers. We also want to build more awareness about what we do. A recent demonstration in the Riverview Shopping Centre is one way of reaching out to the public about the work we do.’

Gerard Seaman, chair of BCFR, said it teaches people a new life skill. ‘I have no background in emergency medicine and we are just the link between the community and the NSA,’ he said. ‘There’s a very good team of people here and a lot of us came with no experience but trained and trained.’

See ‘Bandon First Community Responders’ on Facebook for more details.