THE NORTHWEST island of Arranmore is celebrating the delivery of its first ambulance, which will be run on a voluntary basis by trained members of the community.
The Donegal island’s roll-on roll-off ferry has also been enlisted as part of the island’s new emergency network, as it will be available on a 24-hour basis to transport the ambulance if required to the mainland.
The ferry crew has also been trained to deal with accidents and emergencies, and the ferry will carry an automated external defibrillator (AED), the portable electronic device used to treat cardiac arrhythmias in potential cardiac arrest situations.
The ambulance has been provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE), following a long campaign by the community of just under 600 people. Its arrival is due to be marked later this week by Fianna Fáil MEP for the northwest Pat the Cope Gallagher.
“Our population tends to swell to well over 1,000 during the summer, and we do have an excellent GP and public health nurse,” Nora Flanagan, one of the two ambulance crew members, explained.
“However, they can’t be everywhere, and we have had situations where the lifeboat has had to be called to collect a doctor from Derrybeg, or deliver an injury to the mainland. That could add up to 90 minutes to response to a critical situation, where the casualty may require treatment in the nearest hospital, Letterkenny,” she said.
Ambulances have also travelled out on occasions from Dungloe on the roll-on roll-off ferry, but the island’s dedicated vehicle will obviate the need for this.
The HSE agreed to provide the vehicle, but without staffing. “We agreed in return that two of us would attend a course at the National Ambulance Training College in Ballinasloe, Co Galway,” Ms Flanagan, who is voluntary press officer for the RNLI Arranmore lifeboat, said.
Ms Flanagan, who has a nursing background, completed the course with Jane Murphy, and both are now equipped to respond to any emergency on a voluntary basis.
Some 22 members of the island community have volunteered to train as community first responders. This training equips them to administer cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and to use defibrillators. Voluntary fire crew have also signed up.
The extended emergency service for Arranmore aims to take pressure off the Irish Coast Guard air/sea rescue helicopter in Sligo and the island’s lifeboat station, which holds 18 awards for gallantry since it was established 125 years ago.
Last year, the lifeboat crew won an RNLI award for its 21-hour-long rescue of a single-handed yachtsman some 60 miles northwest of the island in July, 2005.
The Aran island of Inis Mór, which also has one of the busiest lifeboat stations on the western seaboard, has had its own emergency vehicle for some years. Latterly, a four-wheel-drive vehicle was provided for the island doctor, Dr Marion Broderick.
However, there is no dedicated ambulance staffing arrangement in place.
Inis Mór’s service is supported by a number of volunteers, and some 17 RNLI lifeboat volunteers have been trained in first responder and defibrillation techniques.
Members of the island’s voluntary fire service also have received accident and emergency training.
“We believe Arranmore is very fortunate,” Ms Flanagan said. “We are the first island to roll out both an ambulance and first responder together on a national level, and this may be the only ferry in the island to have an AED,” Ms Flanagan said.