Critical - Emergency Medical Response

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Critical - Emergency Medical Response

Ireland’s Leading Volunteer Emergency Medical Response Charity CRITICAL is the largest Volunteer Emergency Medical Response charity in Ireland.

CRITICAL volunteers provide pre-hospital emergency care to critically ill and injured patients in rural and urban areas across the country. Initially founded in 2009 as Irish Community Rapid Response, CRITICAL now has a growing network of volunteer responders operating in 20 counties in cities, towns, and villages. With over 160 medical volunteers, including emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, consultants and other qualified medical professionals, CRITICAL works in partnership with the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to respond to life-threatening emergencies. CRITICAL envisions an Ireland where communities and those living in it have equal opportunity to receive a rapid medical response in the event of a medical emergency, injury, accident, or trauma, no matter the location. We have teams of experienced Volunteer Emergency Medical Doctors, Medical Responders, and Community Responders in communities all over Ireland, with our medical response network steadily growing. We supply emergency medical response vehicles in key areas to experienced advanced or critical care doctors. These vehicles are kitted out with specialist medical equipment including defibrillators, chest compression systems and suction units as well as advanced medical and trauma kits. This allows our volunteer doctors to perform complex and often lifesaving medical procedures, wherever and whenever they’re called upon. We have ambitious plans to further expand this network. Our ground teams responded to more than 1,800 incidents over the last three years alone, working in partnership with the emergency services to give people the very best chance of survival when they find themselves seriously ill or injured. We fundraise to kit out our volunteers so they can continue their life saving work. It costs an average of €25,000 to establish an Advanced level Volunteer Doctor in the community and €120,000 to put a new Critical Care response vehicle on the road. Each lifesaving emergency backpack that we give to a responder in a community like yours costs and average of €1,500 to supply. With your help we will be able to expand this service to more locations across Ireland. Irish Community Rapid Response CLG T/A CRITICAL | Registered Charity No (RCN): 20070762

16/03/2026

Please join us in welcoming Aruna Singh to the CRITICAL team 👋

Aruna will be working with the charity for the next eight weeks as part of her Master’s in Public Health at University of Limerick, where she will complete her practicum and carry out research with us.

We’re delighted to have her on board and look forward to working with her during her time with the charity.

Welcome Aruna!

13/03/2026

Last night, our Head of Operations Edward Walsh visited the team at Critical CFR Balbriggan, where he sat in on a GEMS awareness session delivered by the group’s instructor.

It was a great opportunity to connect with the volunteers and hear more about the incredible work happening within the group. Since going live in Q4 of 2025, Critical CFR Balbriggan has already attended 69 emergency incidents in their community.

During the visit the group also met with Michele, our Community Fundraising Officer, to chat about fundraising and share some exciting ideas they have planned for 2026.

A huge thank you to the volunteers in Balbriggan for their dedication and commitment to supporting their community 👏

12/03/2026

Mother's Day is this Sunday ❤️ If you're living away and looking for a way to celebrate her, send a CRITICAL E-Card.

All funds go directly towards supporting life-saving care in communities across Ireland.

A small gesture that means a lot 💌

Available on www.criticalcharity.ie/critical-cards/

11/03/2026

Earlier this week CRITICAL CFR Kilkenny carried out thorough bag and equipment checks to ensure everything is fully prepared and operational for their next call out 🚑

They also conducted a review and practical session of their first aid skills to ensure they remain current and that the team are fully prepared to respond effectively to any situation!

Well done guys!

10/03/2026

⛳ Calling All Golfers in Clare and surrounding areas... It’s time to tee off for a fantastic cause!

Come out and support your local CRITICAL Community Responder groups in Ennis, Ruan/Dysart - Volunteers who give their time to help save lives in our community ❤️

Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just love a great day on the course, this is a brilliant way to enjoy the game while backing an incredible cause.

🏌️ Book your tee time today
📞 Contact Helen on 085 1295844

Businesses and supporters can also sponsor a tee box. A great way to promote your organisation while helping vital community responders.

Come together and make a real difference!

08/03/2026

When a life threatening emergency happens in a community, a volunteer Community First Responder can be there within minutes.

Across Ireland, many of those responders are women.

Women who step away from their everyday lives when the alert comes through. Women who arrive first, bringing calm, skill and care when every minute counts.

Before the ambulance arrives.
Before the hospital.
Before anything else.

Today we recognise the women who volunteer with CRITICAL and the vital role they play in helping to save lives in their communities ❤️

Critical CFR- Balbriggan Critical CFR Blackwater Critical CFR - Carrick on Suir Critical CFR - Douglas Critical CFR Deansgrange Critical CFR Ennis Critical CFR - Killaloe/Ballina Critical CFR - Macroom Ruan/Dysart CFR Group Critical CFR - West LimerickCritical Youghal First Responders Critical CFR-Kilkenny

06/03/2026

Send an E-Card this Mother's Day and support life-saving care in your community ❤️

All funds raised help us continue our mission to empower communities to save lives.

💌 Available on www.criticalcharity.ie/critical-cards

03/03/2026

Here’s a look at February's Emergency Medical and Trauma Call Out figures.

These numbers reflect a combined response from our dedicated Community First Responders, Volunteer Emergency Medical Responders, the Dublin Airport Fire and Rescue Service Community First Responders and National Ambulance Service (NAS) Off Duty Responder Scheme.

Together these groups and individuals work side by side to deliver lifesaving care when every second counts.

Thank you for your continued support ❤️

Critical CFR- Balbriggan Critical CFR Blackwater Critical CFR - Carrick on Suir Critical CFR - Douglas Critical CFR Deansgrange Critical CFR Ennis Critical CFR - Killaloe/Ballina Critical CFR - Macroom Ruan/Dysart CFR Group Critical CFR - West Limerick Critical Youghal First Responders

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Dublin Airport

02/03/2026

At CRITICAL, our mission is simple. We’re here to save lives.

Every day, our volunteers show up for their communities, ready to respond when it matters most. We work tirelessly to make sure our emergency response services are accessible, reliable and there for anyone who needs them.

Now, we’re looking to grow our team.

We’re currently recruiting Community First Responders in Templemore, Co. Tipperary. If you want to make a real ife-saving difference in your community, we’d love to hear from you.

Applications close March 15th.

26/02/2026

Critical CFR - Douglas provided a Hands for Life CPR demonstration course yesterday for the Grange/Frankfield Active Retirement Association as part of our Spring into Action Campaign.

Thanks to Rory, Keith, Nicky and Ross for giving the demonstration 👏

If you'd like to find out more on how CRITICAL can visit you, visit https://criticalcharity.ie/spring-into-action/

24/02/2026

Did you know that CRITICAL can visit you to:

* Deliver engaging CPR & emergency response awareness sessions
* Break down fear and hesitation around what to do in an emergency
* Provide practical, easy-to-understand information
* Make life-saving knowledge accessible to everyone

Whether you’re supporting staff, students or your local community, your participation could help save a life ❤️

When an emergency happens, the actions taken in the first few minutes can mean the difference between life and death, and anyone can learn them.

Learn more on https://criticalcharity.ie/spring-into-action/

Address

Croom Primary Care Centre
Croom
V35XT25

Telephone

+353214190999

Website

https://www.criticalcharity.ie/

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Our Story

Irish Community Rapid Response - By Land and Air was established in 2008 to deliver professional pre hospital care directly to the site of medical emergencies throughout Ireland. Our volunteer doctors have made a significant difference while working in association with the National Ambulance Service (NAS) when responding to 999/112 emergency calls. Building on our experience and success we launced Ireland's first charity Air Ambulance/ Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) in July 2019. In our first year of service we responded to over 520 taskings through the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC). The NEOC deploys the Air Ambulance as an asset of the NAS, in response to 999/112 calls.

Based out of Rathcool in North Cork, the Irish Community Air Ambulance provides a vital service to people experiencing time critical life threatening emergencies, bringing an Advanced Paramedic to them within minutes of the inital call to 999/112.

The main call outs include Cardiac Arrest, Road Traffic Incidents, Stroke, Fall from Height, Farm and Equestrian related injuries.

As a charity, we rely on public donations to fund the costs of keeping the helicopter in the air.