Cavan – Pre Hospital Care Success Story

20 March 2023

On Saturday afternoon 18^th March, Cavan Civil Defence member, Verona Fitzpatrick received  a call to inform her that that a man had collapsed at the local Dowra Mart. Verona responded with the Civil Defence responder kit and defibrillator. When she arrived she found a man collapsed and two bystanders giving chest compressions. Verona attached the pads and the defibrillator and administered four shocks after which there was a return of spontaneous pulse and breathing.

By the time the ambulance arrived the patient was talking. The patient was transported by air ambulance to Galway University Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

The incident highlights the importance of training in the community and the vital role played by Civil Defence volunteers who are trained to a higher level and having the correct equipment available to them. Verona is to be commended for her swift response and decisive action.

The following is a message of appreciation from the National Ambulance Service:

Please pass on appreciation and thanks from the National Ambulance service to Civil Defence volunteer Verona Fitzpatrick on her attendance at an incident in Dowra mart on Saturday 18^th March, where her excellent Pre Hospital Emergency Care skills resulted in an excellent outcome for the patient concerned.

Kind Regards

 Sean Prior – Operations Resource Manager/ Cavan/ Monaghan

 HSE National Ambulance Service – North Leinster,

 Cavan Ambulance Centre, Cavan General Hospital, Cavan, Co Cavan

 

 

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