Niamh Smyth
Ceist:169. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his plans to put a defibrillator in each school in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47434/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 9 November 2017
Ceisteanna (169)
Freagraí scríofa
The issue of defibrillators in schools is a matter for individual schools in the education sector.
Department of Health is committed to improve survival rates of those who suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest by implementing the an out hospital cardiac arrest strategy. An Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Steering group has been established. Its work will support the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and Community First Responders Ireland (CFR Ireland) in their commitment to improve clinical outcomes for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.
Cardiac First Responders (CFR) Ireland, launched in 2015, is the national umbrella organisation for Community First Responders Groups. CFR Ireland works with the National Ambulance Service, Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council and the Centre for Emergency Medical Science UCD. Both the NAS and CFR Ireland currently support over 145 Community First Responder schemes throughout Ireland, who train community members to provide emergency care support.