The emergency medical response charity, CRITICAL, has revealed the highest number of calls received last year were from Donegal.
CRITICAL is Ireland’s leading Volunteer Emergency Medical Response charity and its mission is to save lives through a network of volunteer emergency medical responders. The doctors and community first responders work closely with the National Ambulance Service and are tasked to care for the sickest and most seriously injured patients.
Donegal recorded the highest number of calls last year, with volunteers responding to 230 taskings, followed by Waterford with 187, Cork with 159 and Tipperary with 119.
The charity also reported a 45% increase in calls in 2024 when compared to the previous year. Last year, they responded to 1,308 taskings, where a volunteer responds to an emergency 999 call, up from 900 in 2023.
The type of taskings included chest pain, stroke, cardiac and respiratory arrest, falls and road traffic collisions.
CRITICAL is now operational in 25 counties with a number of new groups established last year, including in Deansgrange in Co Dublin, Carrick-on-Suir, and Blackwater in North Cork. CRITICAL CEO David Tighe said: “The charity’s goal is to empower communities to save lives and it is great to see that our network of volunteer responders is growing. CRITICAL is providing an invaluable service by working with the National Ambulance Service to ensure that anyone who is experiencing chest pain, stroke or cardiac arrest will be seen to within as quick a time as possible. Our volunteers always say that there is an added sense of pride in knowing that they made a difference in the lives of people in their local community by coming to their assistance when needed.”
To continue to provide its life-saving services, the charity depends on donations from the public. Anyone wishing to support CRITICAL and make a donation can visit https://criticalcharity.ie/ or call 021 4190 99.
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