The Avondhu

Community Air Ambulance tasked 512 times during 2021 – Over €2M needed this year

The Irish Community Air Ambulance was tasked to 512 missions in 14 counties during 2021, its busiest year since the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Air Ambulance launched in July 2019. There were 490 taskings in 2020.

Responding to serious incidents and medical emergencies from its base in Rathcool, Co. Cork, each helicopter mission costing an average of €3,500 - all of which has to be raised or donated.

During 2021, there were more calls to cardiac arrests, farming-related incidents and falls from heights. Cardiac arrests accounted for one in five calls with 103 taskings last year, up from 81 during 2020. Amongst the incidents responded were 89 road traffic collisions, 64 farming incidents, 64 cardiovascular (Heart attacks and strokes), 63 general trauma calls, 61 general medical calls, 48 falls from heights and 20 equestrian incidents.

April and July were the busiest months of the year for the service, with 57 missions completed each month. Cork, Kerry and Tipperary accounted for the majority of taskings, while the Air Ambulance was also tasked to Clare, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Mayo, Galway, Offaly, Laois, Wicklow and Kildare.

One in every three taskings required an airlift to hospital, with 111 transfers to Cork University Hospital during 2021 (66% of all transfers). University Hospital Limerick accounted for 20%.

OVER €2M NEEDED FOR 2022

The organisation is Ireland’s only charity-funded HEMS Air Ambulance and works in partnership with the National Ambulance Service. CEO of the Irish Community Air Ambulance, Micheál Sheridan, said that they engaged with the Government and regional political leaders throughout 2021 to secure some State support for the vital service.

“The HSE is releasing funding to private Ambulance firms to provide support during the continuing crisis, yet the Irish Community Air Ambulance is still entirely funded by public donations. The increased number of taskings during 2021 show that we provide a vital service”, Mr Sheridan said.

“The cost to run the charity during 2022 is expected to be €2.1 million which is a significant amount of money to raise. We are so grateful to all our supporters who help us to bring hope to those in emergency situations but we will continue to engage with the Government to provide funding during these uncertain times.”

ESSENTIAL SERVICE

Diarmuid O’Donovan from Cork was seriously injured when he was thrown over the handlebars of his bike while cycling around Slea Head, Co Kerry in May 2021. He said he needed to be brought to a dedicated Trauma Centre quickly.

“A moment of carelessness saw me hit the road. I was on my own but thankfully it wasn’t long before I was found. Paramedics, a local doctor, the Fire Service and Gardai all responded. I was drifting in and out of consciousness and it quickly emerged that I needed to be at Cork University Hospital as soon as possible.

“I wasn’t in a suitable state for a two-and-a-halfhour journey by road so the Irish Community Air Ambulance was tasked and landed in Ventry. The journey to CUH by helicopter took just 30 minutes. I had 28 different bone breaks including my spine, shoulder and ribs, as well as a punctured lung. I underwent several procedures that evening and spent 12 days in hospital. I believe it could have been far worse if I had not been transported to CUH so quickly and that my recovery has been much faster as a result.”

VAST AREA OF COVERAGE

The organisation also funds a fleet of Rapid Response Vehicles on the ground in counties like Mayo, Donegal and Dublin. These vehicles are staffed by Volunteer Critical Care Doctors and also by Community-based GPs. They are tasked by the National Ambulance Service to treat trauma and medical emergencies within a 40-50km range. The fleet of doctors was tasked 809 times in 2021, bringing the total number of missions across the organisation to more than 1,300.

“There were also transfers to hospitals in Kerry, Tallaght, Galway, Temple Street, Crumlin and The Mater as we saw an increase in the number of times we were required to transfer children and young people to specialist paediatric hospitals in Dublin. We cover an area of 25,000 square kilometres and treat some of the most critically ill and injured patients, bringing them to the hospital that is best suited to their life-saving needs, not just the closest hospital geographically.”

NEWS

en-ie

2022-01-13T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-13T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://avondhu.pressreader.com/article/281852941928226

The Avondhu (Ireland)