On Friday next, 24th January, 17 local schools will come together to show their support and raise funds for one of the most innovative healthcare projects undertaken in the Mallow, Buttevant and Doneraile areas for many years. The schools will all take part in a no-uniform day as they attempt to raise money for the new DBM (Doneraile, Buttevant, Mallow) Community Responder Scheme which will come on stream in the coming weeks.
Scheme co-ordinator Gerard Sheehan has hailed the students’ initiative, saying: “The efforts from the schools and the kids themselves will mean that this scheme will get off the ground sooner rather than later. The smallest members of our society are coming together like never before to help us bring this scheme to the communities of Mallow, Buttevant and Doneraile, and for that we are truly grateful.”
Sheehan outlined what the volunteer service will offer the three communities after it comes on stream in February. “Each area will have two responders on call 24/7. When a call comes into ambulance control for choking or cardiac arrest issues, the nearest on-call team will be dispatched to the incident. We are not here to replace the ambulance service. We are here to complement it. If the ambulance gets to the patient first, we will stand down, however, if we get there first we will stabilise the patient until the ambulance arrives.”
Sheehan went on to say, “We are a volunteer service with almost 30 people at our disposal who are ready to help out, if required. We will use our own vehicles and each team of responders will bring a defibrillator to the scene. After set-up we will deal with cardiac arrest and choking incidents but hopefully as time goes on we will be able to expand the service to incorporate other emergencies. Ambulance control will contact us so the person making the call just rings the normal emergency numbers.”
This is not the first of these schemes that Gerard has been involved with and he has seen most of the benefits first-hand. “At present I am involved in this scheme in Blarney Street in Cork and it is working out really well. Everybody hears that time is of the essence when you are in an emergency situation, and our aim is to help cut the response time after a call for help is made. Early CPR is a vital link in the chain and our hope is that we will be able to strengthen that link with our local, willing and trained volunteers.”
While the numbers of volunteers offering their services has been impressive, Sheehan added there is always room for more. “If anyone would like to get involved they can contact me on 087 3394727 or on my email address dbmcommunityres ponderscheme@gmail.com. We provide all-comers with the necessary training free of charge.”
While some might argue that schemes like this are just covering over the cracks in a creaking health service, Sheehan and his band of volunteers believe that the DBM Community Responder Scheme is yet another example of the local community coming together to help themselves. And who wouldn’t think that isn’t worth supporting.
Schools supporting the DBM Community Responder Scheme are as follows;
Mallow: Gaelscoil Thomais Daibhis, Davis College, Scoil Ghobnatan, St Patrick’s National School, Patrician Academy, Scoil Iosagáin, Mallow No. 1 School, St Mary’s Secondary School, Convent Primary School.
Twopothouse: Baltydaniel National School.
Doneraile: Nagle Rice Secondary School, St Joseph’s CBS School, Presentation Primary Girls School.
Buttevant: Scoil Mhuire na Trocaire, Coláiste Mhuire. Lisgriffin:National School Lisgriffin.
Dromahane: National School Dromahane.