When the volunteers got to the patient, there were members of the public performing CPR, which is a very good thing – “the quicker CPR is started, the better.”
The Irish Kennel Club International Dog Show was underway in Cloghran, north county Dublin when IRC volunteers Brian Deegan, Joe Millar and John Cassidy were all on duty covering the event. As Brian and Joe were patrolling an area of the event, they were alerted by two women that a person had collapsed in the car park.
While Brian called his colleague John to report the cardiac arrest, Joe was bringing the ambulance over the scene. The volunteers would generally ‘walk-around’ a site while on duty. Brian said “We decided to go for a walk around to make sure everything was alright, rather than ‘sit in a room and wait for something to happen’ and as we were walking, two women came up the stairs saying someone had collapsed in the car park.”
When the volunteers got to the patient, members of the public were performing CPR. Then Joe, Brian and John stepped in and carried out what they were trained to do. Brian took over CPR on the patient, one shock of the defibrillator was administered. Brian said this is always a good thing. “Performing CPR when needed is a very good thing and the quicker CPR is started, the better.”
L-R: Brian Deegan, John Cassidy and Joe Millar. (Photo Courtesy: Irish red Cross)
The patient was still unconscious when the fire brigade arrived but there had been a return of spontaneous circulation. The fire brigade took over and the patient was brought by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital.
Later that evening, the Irish Red Cross volunteers were informed the patient was stable.
Recalling how the three volunteers worked together, Brian Deegan says ‘instinct kicks in’. John and I can work together without having to say to much. “If I need something John has it ready without me having to ask for it – and vice versa.” He attributes the success of the intervention to the “early access, early CPR, early AED, and then the paramedics.”
“It just all fell into place,” says Joe, “everything clicks in.”
