Members of the Sillees defibrillator support fund, back frow from left, Michael Skuce, John Mc Kenna, Graham Kent, David Little Anna Corrigan, Resha Rasdala, Ian Rutherford Paul Barton
Front Row, from left, Aoife Rasdale, Conall Rasdale, Ruth Little, Pauline Dolan, Mary Duffy
THE chairman of a newly formed, fund-raising group, has told how a recent near tragedy led to the purchase of five defibrillators for use locally.
All are now fully operational and accessible to the whole community, thanks to a successful fund-raising effort that raised £15,576.75.
Michael Skuce, the chairman of the Sillees Defibrillator Support Fund, said that he was ‘overwhelmed’ with the response from the entire community around Derrygonnelly.
And, he revealed that it was after a woman from Derrygonnelly who required heart resuscitation, and received it, that was the motivation for the establishment of the group.
“Following the incident, which took place over the Christmas period 2012, a defibrillator from the local Harps GAA Club in Derrygonnelly was used to save the woman’s life”, he went on.“Since then, the Derrygonnelly community began fundraising to buy a defibrillator, which would be accessible to the wider community, but, such was the response from the community that they were joined by the surrounding areas of Springfield, Boho, Monea, and Church Hill.
“As a result, they have been able to buy five defibrillators.”
The new support group is representative of the five areas. Its task will be to oversee and maintain the defibrillators as well as ensuring groups and organisations are trained in its use.
He said he was delighted that the defibrillators were now fully operational and accessible to the whole community.
Through the Herald, and on behalf of the group, he thanked sincerely all groups, organisations, businesses and individuals who had given so generously, together with all the organisers of fund raising activities.
He said the group were keen to identify the locations of where the defibrillators are located, should someone need to use them.
In Derrygonnelly, the (two) defibrillators are located in the local Community Centre, at the main entrance door, and also at Derrygonnelly Harps football grounds, at the main entrance to the clubrooms.
In Monea, the machine is kept at the main entrance door to the Reade Hall; in Springfield, at the main entrance to Springfield Methodist Church; in Boho, at the main entrance to the Community Centre, and in, Church Hill, at the main entrance to the band room.
Mr Skuce added: “All these devices are accessible and available for use by the community. We would encourage the wider community to know where their nearest device is located in the event of an emergency.”
He reported that, that to date, over 140 members of the community have been trained in the use of the defibrillators, and said the group will be looking at providing additional life-saving training to groups and organisations.
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