A charity which provides an emergency response service was tasked to Kerry 95 times this year.
CRITICAL was first established in 2009 as Irish Community Rapid Response and in 2019 it launched Ireland’s first and only charity air ambulance.
The air ambulance is now funded by the State, and CRITICAL consists of a network of volunteers that respond alongside the National Ambulance Service when 999 or 112 is called.
The volunteers respond to road traffic collisions, cardiac arrests, farming accidents and other major traumas.
Nationally, the service responded to 1,877 calls this year as of mid-December, which is a 43% increase compared to the same period last year.
Head of operations and standards with CRITICAL, Edward Walsh, explains what calls they attended in Kerry:
In Kerry there is currently one critical care doctor, who is based in Firies, and ten off-duty responders who carry basic life-support kits.
Edward Walsh says they are always looking to expand in Kerry:
