New State-of-the-Art Defibrillator Enhances Safety on the Queen Maeve Trail

A significant milestone in public safety has been achieved with the installation of a cutting-edge defibrillator on the Queen Maeve Trail. This life-saving device, made possible through the generous contributions of Sligo Credit Union's Community Fund and Strandhill Community First Responders, represents the unwavering support of our remarkable Coolera Peninsula community.

Maintained by the dedicated team at Strandhill CFR, the defibrillator owes its existence to the invaluable assistance of Martina and Liam from the Base Camp, Main Car Park, Glen Road, Knocknarea, and Keith from KC Electrical. Their kind support has enabled the installation of this essential device, which can be found adjacent to the Base Camp in the main car park of the Queen Maeve Trail, Glen Road, Knocknarea, Co Sligo, near Eircode F91 AK28 and across from number 1 of the new safety markers.

The chosen location for the defibrillator was carefully determined, taking into account the high volume of local residents and visitors who frequent the Trail and reside in the surrounding area. Renowned as one of Sligo's most accessible and popular mountain trails, the Queen Maeve Trail attracts numerous visitors each year, including participants of the immensely popular Warrior Run, held annually on the last Saturday of August.

Thanks to the support of Sligo Credit Union Community Fund, a LIFEPAK CR2 defibrillator was acquired. This user-friendly device provides valuable feedback to rescuers during emergencies. The defibrillator and its accompanying heated storage unit were supplied by Heartsafety Solutions. When a person experiences cardiac arrest, prompt CPR and defibrillation offer the best chances of survival.

The presence of easily accessible Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) is vital in such situations. Shane Feeney, coordinator of Strandhill CFR, expressed profound gratitude to Sligo Credit Union Community Fund for funding this life-saving equipment. Strengthening the chain of survival within the community remains a top priority for the group. Together with other defibrillators situated across the Coolera Peninsula and Coney Island, this new addition will be linked to the NAS emergency dispatch system and be available for public use during cardiac emergencies.

Special thanks were extended to Martina and Liam for granting access to their premises and to Keith for the defibrillator's installation, as their support has been instrumental in delivering life-saving equipment to our community. The collaboration and assistance of various community groups and local businesses have made it possible for us to have multiple public access defibrillators. Furthermore, raising awareness about the availability of defibrillators within our community cannot be emphasised enough and people can donate to the groups work using Strandhill CFR's donate page - https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/strandhillcfr.

Liam Stewart, Community Engagement Officer for the National Ambulance Service, warmly welcomes the presence of this additional AED in the area, recognising its pivotal role in enhancing the chain of survival. Early identification of a cardiac arrest, immediate emergency calls to 999 or 112, coupled with CPR and swift utilisation of a defibrillator, offer patients the highest chances of survival in the face of such a critical event.

Pic: Carl Brennan.