'I want to help my local community' - Former paramedic still saving lives in Kilkenny

Kilkenny has recently gained an enormously important volunteer service called Kilkenny Critical Community First Responders which launched last month.

The group is made up of 16 members who responded to 12 calls in their first month alone. Everything from a cardiac arrest to chest pain, strokes and choking.

One of the 16 members has offered to share his story of why he joined the community service; meet Paddy Mc Donald from Kilkenny City.

Paddy is a former paramedic in the Defence Forces and enjoys martial arts and rugby in his spare time.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny community rallies around child after 'complex' brain tumour surgery - Kilkenny Live

"I joined the CFR group as I wanted to help members of my local community. Having previously crewed emergency ambulances, I know the difference trained first responders can make.

"I know that by being part of this group means I can provide initial help to members of the community until an ambulance arrives."

Paddy said that the Kilkenny CFR is so important because it provides life saving skills to members of the local community.

"For example a recent call I received was less than 5 minutes walk from my house. In a life threatening emergency such as heart attack or cardiac arrest, minutes matter.

"The National Ambulance Service will always prioritise these calls but quite often members of the local CFR group may be closer to attend the scene with life saving equipment and start treatment until the ambulance arrives."

Paddy encourages anyone who can to get involved.

"It's a great way of giving back to the local community. Members of the group also learn skills such as using an AED managing a cardiac arrest, heart attack, a choking patient and a patient suffering a stroke.

"As time goes on they will enhance their skill set which will allow them to treat patients who have fallen and patients who might have traumatic injuries.

"It also allows members to get involved in fundraising activities and it could also be possible for people to become instructors in community first response courses."

Paddy also teaches first aid courses and by being a member of the CFR group, it allows him to help members who might have little to no previous first aid experience.

"I enjoy helping the group coordinators in the development and seeing the progress the group is making.

"I also find that the group has gelled together very well. I find that training sessions are light hearted and fun but at the same time the group takes them seriously and works very hard on their skill sets."