New life-saving defibrillator for Moville, thanks to Inishowen Credit Union

A new public access defibrillator has been installed in Moville – and it could just help save your life before the emergency services arrive.

The potentially life-saving device is located on the outside wall of St Eugene’s Hall in the seaside town, where it will be accessible for use 24/7 during cardiac emergencies.

The Moville defibrillator has been funded through the Inishowen Credit Union’s Community Fund, and it’s the second in a series of such devices planned for the peninsula, following the first installation at St Aengus NS in Bridgend earlier this month.

Inishowen Credit Union has also organised defibrillator training in Moville, so that the machine may be quickly deployed and utilised when it’s needed most.

The training will be offered by the Newtowncunningham Community First Responders group, and anyone who wishes to get involved may do so. It is crucial to build up as much local know-how as possible to be able to respond to critically ill patients within minutes.

The Moville defibrillator – which may be used to provide electric shocks to those suffering from cardiac arrest – will be maintained and monitored by the St Eugene's Hall Committee.

The Hall Committee has paid tribute to Inishowen Credit Union for its generosity and for “using its Community Fund to give back in such an important way.”

The new defibrillator is the nearest life-saving device to the busy Moville shore walk and Green, and it’s also just a stone’s throw from the centre of town, making its location extremely optimal.

Community-run AEDs [Automated External Defibrillator] are designed to respond immediately to those suffering cardiac issues before the paramedics arrive on scene to take over: every second is vital in such life-or-death scenarios.

Defibrillators are operated by members of the public, who follow visual and audio prompts provided by the easy-to-follow machine itself.

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Around 5,000 people in Ireland suffer a sudden cardiac arrest every year. A patient’s chance of surviving a cardiac arrest decreases by an estimated 10 per cent with every passing minute without intervention. An AED can be the difference between life and death.

The St Eugene’s Hall Committee plans to host a two-hour class to further instruct members of the public on how to quickly operate an AED. This training will be in conjunction with the Newtown First Responders and the Red Cross and it has been organised by Inishowen Credit Union.

Call or text the Hall on +353 83 813 2948 for more information.