Up to seventy members of the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps from the Midland and Mid Eastern regions attended the National Ploughing Championships held in Rathineska, Co. Laois recently. An estimated 279,500 people attended the three day event, which is Europe’s largest outdoor exhibition and agricultural shows.
By Declan Keogh
An Garda Siochana and Laois County Fire Service attended the event in an operational capacity, providing varied services to both the National Ploughing team and the public in general. In addition to that, the Order of Malta played an integral role at this national event, providing specialist cover such as medical, welfare and communications.
The National Ploughing Championships has become the largest annual duty undertaken by the Ambulance Corps’ and is the only duty where specialist teams provide a full medical service to the event. The Order of Malta Press Office confirmed to Emergency Times that up to seventy volunteers from thirteen units gave hundreds of long hours, from early till late. All the members were PHECC accredited Advanced Paramedics, Paramedics, Emergency Medical technicians, Emergency First responders and Cardiac First Responders.
Services provided on site were their own Medical Centre, staffed by OMAC nursing staff, a Welfare Centre, a Mobile Communications unit and a full Control Room. Seven Medical Posts were situated throughout the site and easily identified.
Unlike major concert or other outdoor events, the National Ploughing Championships doesn’t have a high number of patients requiring treatment; however, there the Press Office reported a steady number of minor injuries being treated on site, in the Medical Centre or in a Medical Posts, and only a small number of those having to be transferred off site.
It was a very successful duty and great event for the Ambulance Corps overall. The Order of Malta unit’s which provided personnel were from Athlone, Athy, Baldoyle, Birr/Roscrea, Carlow, Cashel, Kells, Mullingar, Naas, Newbridge, Portlaoise, Tullamore and Waterford.
Pic: Courtesy Order of Malta
Published: 19.10.14 at 16.30
Follow Emergency Times on Facebook or Twitter @emergencytimes
