Longford's new defibrillator group makes great progress in recent meeting

There was recently a public meeting on October 29  in the Longford Vintage Club, Connolly Barracks, over defibrillators needed in Longford town. This open discussion has the aim of setting up a committee to maintain current defibrillators but discuss where new ones should be. 

Darren Mulleady, a paramedic and member of Ballymahon Defibrillator Group, highlighted the N4 Axis defibrillator after happening to come across it back in early October. Through some research, with the National Ambulance Service in Tallaght, it was learnt that it was not listed on the system. This defibrillator was required a code to access it by calling 999, but without it being logged, Darren learnt that no one locally seemed to know who owns it or who looks after it.

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"This got me thinking, Longford town is a big busy town and from my research the public don’t know where their nearest public access defibrillators is," had said at the time. 

He spoke with to two of his colleagues in the National Ambulance Service based in Longford ambulance station, Jacinta Dervin and Keith Gurn, and also spoke to Emma Reid who is a Civil Defence Officer and is a Community First Responder for Longford town. They all agreed to do something, which led to the meeting. 

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Subsequently, Darren reached out with an update: 

"It was a great turn out at our first meeting at the Longford Vintage Club; a great discussion we had on the floor. Going forward, we are going to find out where all the defibrillators are in Longford town and come back for a second meeting on Wednesday, November 19, at 8pm. 

"Thanks again to everyone who attended the meeting."

Everyone is welcome to join for the next meeting.