Fundraising drive as hearty Buncrana First Responders aim to get up and running

A group of local volunteers have established a first responder service in Buncrana and require funding to go live. 

The Buncrana Community First Responders work in partnership with the National Ambulance Service to attend calls first. 

The not-for-profit group operates in Buncrana and within a 10km radius outside to respond to those in need as soon as possible. Buncrana Community First Responders have been working hard to fundraise to purchase the necessary equipment needed to perform this vital work. 

The group currently consists of 24 members in total, which is inclusive of 16 community first responders (CFR) and eight trainers. 

“We are a new service, the Irish Red Cross Buncrana Branch began training us back in November,” Jade O’Neill, a member of the first responder team tells DonegalLive. “We have been trained to react to emergencies from the National Ambulance service, once we have sufficient funding to go live the ambulance service will contact us and then we dispatch four members to respond to the emergency. 

“We have been trained to respond to emergencies such as a cardiac arrest, a fall or a stroke for example and we begin hands-on CPR or applying a defibrillator before the ambulance arrives so if the ambulance takes 20 or 30 minutes we’ll be there within five. We really need this service in Inishowen, especially Buncrana. All members are now fully qualified but we need to raise enough money to get our kits bags and defibrillators.”

A kit bag containing emergency medical supplies with a high-vis vest costs €199.73.  A kitbag containing emergency medical supplies, with a high-vis vest and  Automated External Defibrillator (AED), costs €1,594.73.

Other equipment required, which shows not everything is expensive but it is essential are: 12 pack 300mg Aspirin €2.50, CPR Face mask €5, Fleece Blanket €8, CFR High Vis Vest €10, Head Torch €10, Saline €12, two PPE Kits €35, Aerocase Emergency Back Pack €100.

This month, the group has held various fundraisers in the form of  ‘big hearty breakfasts’ that local clubs and businesses have hosted. 

“February has been chosen as the fundraising month as it is the month of love and we intend to carry out fundraisers every February,” Jade says.

Several have already taken place in the likes  Cashel Na Cor, Fahan Community Drop-in at Fahan Presbyterian Church Hall, Chapter 63 in Buncrana, Cockhill Celtic FC, Buncrana FET/Donegal ETB and Buncrana Zumba group.  Further breakfasts are to take place before March 9. The group will also host raffles in the run-up to Easter. 

Roddy Smyth from Newtowncunnigham First Responders Group - the only other group in the Inishowen area - came to the Scarvey, the home of the Buncrana GAA club, and gave everyone at BCFR wonderful advice and encouragement during their assessments. 

Last month, the Chairperson of Buncrana GAA Malachy McCann presented the group with their certificates. He thanked the group for all their hard work and commended them all for bringing the Community First Response to Buncrana, by saying: "We just don't know the day and hour, we will need to call for help". 

This Saturday, John and Eunice Gillespie will play host at Sandra’s House, Sleadrin, from 10am to 1pm. Everyone is more than welcome. Anyone interested in hosting a big hearty breakfast can contact the team through this email and a personalised poster will be designed to promote the given event. 

“Our ideal situation is that every CFR will have their own kit bag with a defibrillator so that we don’t have to run to the nearest defibrillator,” she adds. “We need funds to run this service as even when we have got the equipment it will need to be updated and replaced.

“This is a vital service that enables responders to arrive at the scene quicker and also gather the person’s details so when the ambulance arrives all information is already there, which saves time."

First responder services are extremely important in areas that are not close to emergency services and they can potentially save lives. 

If you would like to donate to Buncrana Community First Responders you can do so on their iDonate page.