Critical - Emergency Medical Response

Critical - Emergency Medical Response Ireland’s Leading Volunteer Emergency Medical Response Charity CRITICAL is the largest Volunteer Emergency Medical Response charity in Ireland.

CRITICAL volunteers provide pre-hospital emergency care to critically ill and injured patients in rural and urban areas across the country. Initially founded in 2009 as Irish Community Rapid Response, CRITICAL now has a growing network of volunteer responders operating in 20 counties in cities, towns, and villages. With over 160 medical volunteers, including emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, consultants and other qualified medical professionals, CRITICAL works in partnership with the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to respond to life-threatening emergencies. CRITICAL envisions an Ireland where communities and those living in it have equal opportunity to receive a rapid medical response in the event of a medical emergency, injury, accident, or trauma, no matter the location. We have teams of experienced Volunteer Emergency Medical Doctors, Medical Responders, and Community Responders in communities all over Ireland, with our medical response network steadily growing. We supply emergency medical response vehicles in key areas to experienced advanced or critical care doctors. These vehicles are kitted out with specialist medical equipment including defibrillators, chest compression systems and suction units as well as advanced medical and trauma kits. This allows our volunteer doctors to perform complex and often lifesaving medical procedures, wherever and whenever they’re called upon. We have ambitious plans to further expand this network. Our ground teams responded to more than 1,800 incidents over the last three years alone, working in partnership with the emergency services to give people the very best chance of survival when they find themselves seriously ill or injured. We fundraise to kit out our volunteers so they can continue their life saving work. It costs an average of €25,000 to establish an Advanced level Volunteer Doctor in the community and €120,000 to put a new Critical Care response vehicle on the road. Each lifesaving emergency backpack that we give to a responder in a community like yours costs and average of €1,500 to supply. With your help we will be able to expand this service to more locations across Ireland. Irish Community Rapid Response CLG T/A CRITICAL | Registered Charity No (RCN): 20070762

20/02/2026

At CRITICAL we earn the trust placed in us by insisting on quality and striving to get the basics right every time.

From our Volunteer Emergency Medical Responders and Volunteer Paramedics, to our nationwide network of Community First Responder Groups, everything we do is driven by one shared goal: being ready when communities need us most.

Because lives depend on it.

We’re inviting schools, workplaces, community groups, sports clubs, and organisations across Ireland to join our Spring ...
18/02/2026

We’re inviting schools, workplaces, community groups, sports clubs, and organisations across Ireland to join our Spring Into Action campaign.

Because emergencies can happen anywhere but knowing what to do can change everything

As part of this campaign CRITICAL can visit you to:

* Deliver engaging CPR & emergency response awareness sessions
* Provide practical, easy-to-understand information

Whether you’re educating students, supporting staff or strengthening your local community, your participation could help save a life. ❤️

Learn more on https://criticalcharity.ie/spring-into-action/

❤️ This Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about hearts.Because in a cardiac emergency, every second counts.Today is about love...
14/02/2026

❤️ This Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about hearts.

Because in a cardiac emergency, every second counts.

Today is about love, connection and care. It’s also a gentle reminder of how important it is to look after our own hearts, and to be ready to help someone else’s.

Every year, thousands of people in Ireland suffer cardiac arrests. Knowing CPR, knowing where the nearest defibrillator is, or simply understanding what to do in those first few minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

🚑 Our Volunteer Doctors, Medical Responders and Community First Responders are trained to provide lifesaving CPR and defibrillation before the emergency services arrive, helping hearts when they need it most.

This Valentine’s Day, show a little extra love by learning CPR, supporting your local CFR group, or sharing this message with someone who might need it.

Because caring for each other is what really matters ❤️

12/02/2026

Send an E-Card and support lifesaving care in your community ❤️

All funds raised help us continue our mission to empower communities to save lives.

💌 Available on www.criticalcharity.ie/critical-cards

Today is 112 day, a number that could save your life. In an emergency, knowing who to call and what to do can make all t...
11/02/2026

Today is 112 day, a number that could save your life.

In an emergency, knowing who to call and what to do can make all the difference. 112 is the emergency number across Europe - keep it in mind as you never know when you might need it.

Knowing things like basic CPR can also make a vital difference. We've included our quick CPR guide for you here. Please take a moment to read it, share it and help spread lifesaving knowledge.

You never know whose life you could help save ❤️

11/02/2026

Most of us know 999. Fewer know 112.

Today on 112 Day, help us spread awareness of the number that could save a life. Yours or someone else’s.

Remembering the number is vital. But being prepared to act can make an even bigger difference. That’s why through programmes like Spring Into Action, CRITICAL can visit your workplace, community group or school to build confidence in CPR and emergency response.

Because emergencies can happen anywhere, and anyone can be a lifesaver ❤️

Learn more on https://criticalcharity.ie/spring-into-action/

10/02/2026

Call 112 or 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance if your child is choking, especially if they become unresponsive.

Our emergency call taker will guide you through how to give CPR. If you see the object during CPR, remove it - never place your fingers in the mouth if you can't see the object.

You can find helpful information here: https://www2.hse.ie/babies-children/first-aid/choking-in-children it's always important to know what to do in an emergency BEFORE it happens.

A small gesture can mean everything, especially when it helps save a life ❤️Our Online Valentine’s Card Shop is now live...
10/02/2026

A small gesture can mean everything, especially when it helps save a life ❤️

Our Online Valentine’s Card Shop is now live and every E-Card purchased is a direct donation to CRITICAL Emergency Medical Response.

All funds raised help us continue our mission to empower communities to save lives. From CPR awareness to emergency response education, your support helps give people the skills and confidence to act when it matters most.

💌 Available on www.criticalcharity.ie/critical-cards

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for our new Community First Responders in Douglas and this week was no different.During...
07/02/2026

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for our new Community First Responders in Douglas and this week was no different.

During an evening training session in Garryduff Sports Centre during the week, Critical CFR - Douglas were dispatched to a suspected stroke in the community, with Nicky and Irene responding immediately.

Shortly after they were called to a cardiac arrest, where crews from National Ambulance Service Ireland had already successfully resuscitated the patient. Our volunteers assisted on scene, supporting the paramedics in providing ongoing care.

At the same time, Ross was dispatched to another suspected stroke call followed closely by Rory responding to a further emergency.

Later that evening, the team were joined by John and Colin from the National Ambulance Service for a training simulation, alongside colleagues from CRITICAL Emergency Medical Response.

We are incredibly grateful to paramedics like John and Colin who give their own time to help develop our CFR volunteers and strengthen emergency response in local communities.

🚨 In 2025, demand for our emergency response reached unprecedented levels.New figures show a 54% increase in emergency c...
03/02/2026

🚨 In 2025, demand for our emergency response reached unprecedented levels.

New figures show a 54% increase in emergency calls, with our community first responder groups, volunteer doctors and paramedics responding to over 2,000 medical and trauma incidents nationwide up from just over 1,300 the year before.

Behind every call is a real emergency. Cardiac arrests. Strokes. Road traffic collisions. Moments where rapid, specialist care can mean the difference between life and death.

This surge highlights both the growing need for community-based emergency response and the vital role our volunteers play in those critical first minutes before hospital care is available.

Read more about the figures, the pressures facing emergency services, and the impact of our work here:
🔗 https://criticalcharity.ie/new-figures-reveal-54-increase-in-emergency-calls-in-2025/

27/01/2026

Got an idea for your own fundraising event? You can be as creative as you like - big or small, every effort makes a difference.

When you fundraise for CRITICAL, you’re helping to equip and support local Community First Responders and Volunteer Doctors so they can be there when every minute counts.

We’re here to support you every step of the way. From fundraising packs and sponsorship cards to buckets, posters, and online fundraising tools, we’ll help you get the most from your event and make it an enjoyable, rewarding experience.

Visit our website to learn more www.criticalcharity.ie/get-involved/event-registrations/

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Our Story

Irish Community Rapid Response - By Land and Air was established in 2008 to deliver professional pre hospital care directly to the site of medical emergencies throughout Ireland. Our volunteer doctors have made a significant difference while working in association with the National Ambulance Service (NAS) when responding to 999/112 emergency calls. Building on our experience and success we launced Ireland's first charity Air Ambulance/ Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) in July 2019. In our first year of service we responded to over 520 taskings through the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC). The NEOC deploys the Air Ambulance as an asset of the NAS, in response to 999/112 calls.

Based out of Rathcool in North Cork, the Irish Community Air Ambulance provides a vital service to people experiencing time critical life threatening emergencies, bringing an Advanced Paramedic to them within minutes of the inital call to 999/112.

The main call outs include Cardiac Arrest, Road Traffic Incidents, Stroke, Fall from Height, Farm and Equestrian related injuries.

As a charity, we rely on public donations to fund the costs of keeping the helicopter in the air.