Clane Branch

Welcome...

...to the Clane Branch of the Irish Red Cross!

As an aid to understanding how the Red Cross is made up locally and internationally, we have made available the Red Cross - Ideas in Action lecture from the induction course given to all new members.

You might want to start with the About Us section, or if photos are your thing, try the Branch History in photos!

News!

Red Cross members providing first aid cover at the South County Dublin Hunt at Charlie O'Neills

Photograph courtsey of Paul Mulreid

Red Cross helping the community during the cold snap.

The Clane Unit was one of 6 IRC ambulance crews on call with the HSE on Tuesday night (5th January 2010). The ambulance was crewed by EMT Rosemarie Hayden Acting ADU, EMFR Donal Cunningham SUO, and EFR/Driver Michael O'Riordan SUO. The Clane Ambulance worked out of St. Vincents Hospital, doing patient transfers from Accident and Emergency to Non-Acute Hospitals and Convalescent Facilities in order to clear space for incoming patients.

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Letter of thanks from Chief Ambulance Officer of the Eastern Division of the HSE National Ambulance Service

Red Cross responding to flood evacuation of Clane Nursing Home

Clane Red Cross headed up the local Red Cross response to a flood evacuation over the past few days. Hazel Hall Nursing Home, beside Clane Hospital where the Clane Red Cross ambulance is parked was subject to flooding in the car park of a foot deep of water which was being held back from the door with sandbags.

The decision was taken by the nursing home to do a pre-emptive evacuation as the health and safety dangers if the waters breached the defences were considered too grave. On Sunday afternoon one of the Clane Branch members who had previously been a contact for the Hazel Hall nursing home. This member has since moved to the UK but she ensured the contact was passed on to the duty organiser for Clane Unit - Donal Cunningham. Donal then put the word out in the Unit and the Clane Unit ambulance transferred nursing supplies as part of a combined effort of Order of Malta, Civil Defence, Wheelchair Assoc., HSE and Gardai in moving 34 patients to the newly opened Mountplesant Nursing Home in Kilcock.

Once the floodwaters had abated we were again requested to assist in the movement of patients and equipment back yesterday. The Red Cross mobilised ambulances from Units in Clane, Lucan and Dublin 15, and members from Clane, Newbridge, Lucan and Malahide Units, members included a HSE Paramedic, RGN, EMT trainee, EMFRs and EFR. Again the efforts were coordinated with the Civil Defence and Wheelchair Assoc. All residents were returned home safely, including a 102-year-old resident who was very happy to be back in familiar surroundings.

Clane members on Standby during the bad weather conditions.

Members Lisa Vaughan, Rosemarie Hayden and Michael O' Riordan on standby 11th January 2010

Michael O' Riordan on standby 11th January 2010

EFR (Emergency First Responder) Training

Stephen Hayden, Michael O’Riordan and Carmel Walsh from Co. Kildare were among the first students to be taught by newly-qualified Irish Red Cross Instructors. The Instructors are the first to attain the new state-accredited Level 3 training from the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC).

This year sees the Irish Red Cross celebrate its 70th anniversary of service in communities across Ireland by its highly-skilled First Aid and Community Service volunteers. The Red Cross has decided to further increase skill levels by providing higher-level First Aid training to its members and comes in the wake of a European report showing that Ireland has amongst one of the lowest-levels of First Aid knowledge in Europe, with just an estimated five per cent of people knowing First Aid in Ireland as against 80 per cent in Germany and Austria.

For information on First Aid courses in your area contact 1890 502 502 or log onto www.RedCrossTraining.ie

Back row: Stephen Hayden (Co. Kildare), Brian Gregory (Dublin), Peter Hilliard (Dublin), Aodhán Gregory (Dublin) and Michael O’Riordan (Co. Kildare). Middle row: Keith Hennelly (Co. Mayo), Melissa Dolan (Co. Mayo), Katie Finn (Co. Mayo), Carmel Walsh (Co. Kildare), Megan Lynch (Co. Wicklow) and Ann Fitzpatrick (Co. Wicklow).

Front row: Peter Ryan, Course Tutor (Dublin) and Darryl Coen, EFR Programme Manager (Co. Meath).

Photo: Peter Ryan, Irish Red Cross.

Back row: Stephen Hayden (Co. Kildare), Brian Gregory (Dublin), Peter Hilliard (Dublin), Aodhán Gregory (Dublin) and Darryl Coen, EFR Programme Manager (Co. Meath).

Middle row: Peter Ryan, Course Tutor (Dublin), Bernie Stevenson, National Training Support Manager, Melissa Dolan (Co. Mayo), Katie Finn (Co. Mayo), Carmel Walsh (Co. Kildare), Megan Lynch (Co. Wicklow) ) and Michael O’Riordan (Co. Kildare).

Front row: Keith Hennelly (Co. Mayo) and Ann Fitzpatrick (Co. Wicklow).

Photo: Peter Ryan, Irish Red Cross.

EMT Training (Emergency Medical Technician Training)

The 70 Emergency Medical Technician trainees from all over Ireland who took part in the first Irish Red Cross EMT course on World First Aid Day.

Photo: Michael McDonnell.

Inaugural seminar for EMT Training.

Rosemarie Hayden of Donadea, Naas was among the 70 Irish Red Cross members from all over Ireland who took part in the inaugural seminar for Emergency Medical Technician trainees on World First Aid Day.

This year sees the Irish Red Cross celebrate its 70th anniversary of service in communities across Ireland such as West Meath, by its highly-skilled First Aid and Community Service volunteers. The Red Cross has decided to further increase skill levels by providing higher-level First Aid training to its members by providing them with training to Emergency Medical Technician level. The new higher-level training is being introduced at a time when a new report, published on World First Aid Day on 12 September, shows that Ireland has amongst one of the lowest-levels of First Aid knowledge in Europe, with just an estimated five per cent of people knowing First Aid in Ireland as against 80 per cent in Germany and Austria.

The Irish Red Cross provides fully recognised First Aid training for companies, clubs and individuals. Call 1850 502 502 now or click onto www.RedCrossTraining.ie

Photo: Michael McDonnell.

Commemorative Medals

Pictured accepting their commemorative medals for their contribution to the 2007 First Aid Convention in Europe (FACE), held in the University of Limerick, are:

Back Row: Ann McDermott, Colm Lawlor and Rosemarie Hayden.

Front Row: Maureen Hagin-Meade, Rachel McIllkenny, Pat Merrick, Regional Director of Units for the Western Region, and Tony Lawlor, National Vice Chairman of the Irish Red Cross.

Photo: Emma Jervis, Press 22.

New Ambulance.

Clane, Co. Kildare. Minister of State at the Department of Finance Dr. Martin Mansergh T.D. presenting Rosemarie Hayden of the Irish Red Cross with the keys of a new ambulance. From left to right: Anne Holton, Stephen Hayden, Minister Martin Mansergh, Rosemarie Hayden and Irish Red Cross Vice Chairman, Tony Lawlor.

Photo: Dennis Barry Photography.

Ambulance Launch

Clane Red Cross personnel and our Central Council representative, Paddy O' Brien of Newbridge Branch.

SUCCESS!

We are delighted to announce that we have raised enough money to purchase our own ambulance! A huge thank-you is owed to everyone who gave of their time and money to make this possible. Our fundraising committee did a fantastic job - you don't want to know how much work they put in...

A Ford Transit has been purchased by Head Office under their most recent purchase scheme; it is being converted for Ambulance use, and will be delivered in 6-8 weeks (mid-November). We are very grateful to Head Office for allowing us to participate in the scheme, in which they part-purchase the ambulance - it costs close to €100,000 to buy a suitable vehicle and convert it!

More news as we get it!

Scouting Ireland 100 year celebrations

Other Red Cross personnel attended from Counties Kildare, Dublin, Wicklow and Carlow. Emergency services showcased their skills in a 'major incident simulation' where casualties were rescued from a burning car. The coordinated efforts of the Gardai, HSE, Fire Brigade, Civil Defence and Army made for an impressive display. For more details check out the Jamboree web site.

World Red Cross Day

To Celebrate World Red Cross Day on May 8th, Clane Red Cross filmed a piece with Kairos for the Witness programme on RTÉ. The English version, narrated by our Chairperson Dónal Cunningham, has already aired; a link to this video will be here shortly. The Irish version was narrated by our resident gaelgoir Valerie Ní Chochláin and will air in the coming months.

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