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The Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR) air ambulance responded to 46 farming accidents in 2020, accounting for almost one in 10 incidents.
In its first full year in operation, the ambulance was called to 490 incidents across 13 counties.
It is based in Rathcoole, Co Cork, and works in tandem with the National Ambulance Service to provide both paramedic support and transport to hospital for seriously ill patients.
Road accidents account for most incidents with 94 taskings in 2020. This was followed by 81 cardiac arrests, 75 general trauma calls, 73 general medical calls and 46 farming accidents.
Falls from heights was the next closest with 29 call-outs.
Service
ICRR chief executive Mícheál Sheridan says: “The ICRR Air Ambulance is airborne in under four minutes of being tasked by the National Ambulance Service, and is 30 minutes away from most of the areas within its catchment.
“Dozens of lives have been saved as a result of the hard work of the crew, and care administered in a timely manner to hundreds of others. Ireland needs this service, and this service needs the continuing support of our community fundraisers and corporate supporters.”
ICRR recently launched its new ‘Further Faster’ campaign to help raise the €1.5mi needed this year to fund the service and its new air ambulance helicopter.
Full details are available at www.icrr.ie
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