21/03/2025
HELP US HELP SUPPORT OR COMMUNITY.
We are fundraising to support Mid ulster Community First Responders. These are amazing volunteers in our community that offer life saving emergency treatment.
Raffle tickets cost £10 and you will be entered to win £500 to spend in clinic can go towards any treatment or service no limits.
We aim to gather enough money to buy emergency kits for the volunteers.
Mid Ulster Community First Responders is a local charity made up of 20 dedicated volunteers who are trained by, and work alongside the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to provide life saving care in the local community.
Community First Responders are alerted by NIAS to patients over 12 years old who are suffering from instances of cardiac arrest, choking, chest pain, breathing difficulties, unconscious for unknown reasons, seizures and some stroke symptoms.
They cover a boundary area based on the volunteer's home addresses which currently includes Magherafelt, Castledawson, The Loup, Moneymore, Ballyronan, Dessertmartin, Knockloughrim, Bellaghy, Curran, Churchtown while going into some areas of Gulladuff, Tobermore, Ballymaguigan, Coagh, Ballinderry, Cookstown
So how does it work?
When someone calls 999 and the patient is within the boundary area above and suffering from one of the conditions mentioned previously, as the ambulance despatcher is alerting an ambulance, they also alert all 20 Mid Ulster Community First Responders via text message. Whoever is closest and available will attend.
Outlook for 2025
Every First Responder is equipped with a kit which includes all the equipment they need to save a life, including a defibrillator. These kits cost approximately £2,000 each and are funded by donations from the local community.
They plan to extend the volunteer base and boundary area during 2025 to include Draperstown. This will cost in the region of £20,000 for kits.
