Bayside Community First Responders

02/02/2026

ROSC: Return of Spontaneous Circulation.
It's rare to get a ROSC in public, but one of our responders managed it last week. Arriving just 4 minutes after he received the call Jacques administered CPR and 3 shocks from a defibrillator to a person suffering a cardiac arrest in the area. Without his efforts before the arrival of advanced life support from Dublin Fire Brigade the patient's chance of survival would have been greatly decreased.

This is what we train for, and it means the world to us to have someone back to life. Consistent training, the existence of a CFR group in the area, and someone knowing CPR made all the difference to this call.

Well done Jacques who is also a member of Dublin Bay North - Community First Responders and a CFR group in Cork.

Image for illustration purposes only.

30/01/2026

You may notice a new sticker on our cabinets, and it's for good reason. The Bayside Inn. has been a primary sponsor for the defibrillators in the community from day one. Allowing our bucket behind their counter has been the primary source of funds for new defibrillators and the maintenance of the current ones and we can't thank them enough. Staff members were putting tips in the buckets, bands were donating their fees, and locals were putting their change in.

So if ever an excuse was needed for a lovely pint in our Bayside inn, blame it on the defibrillators this weekend and support local. We cannot thank the team enough.

20/01/2026

Bayside Community First Responders and Bayside boules club together launched the newest 24/7 defibrillator for the Bayside area. This life saving piece of equipment will be available 365 days a year at Bayside National School.

We have a number of people to thank for this wonderful achievement. Bayside boules club. Bayside National School. The Ciaran Carr foundation. Fingal County Council. Our own community first responders and finally the public and our followers who helped us by donating and spreading the word.

Our promise will always be for as long as we have the money we will keep maintaining and launching defibrillators in the area. Please share this post so as many people as possible know about the new AED.

30/11/2025

We had a wonderful time teaching 40+ people CPR and AED use with the help of Declan from Malahide and Portmarnock Community First Responders. Our thanks to the Bayside community centre and the Howth/Sutton Lions Club. We'll see you in the new year for more training.

20/11/2025

Our coordinator Ruairí will be running free CPR and Defibrillator training for the howth/Sutton lions next week in the Bayside community centre. Please call Dan if you wish to attend

We also have exciting news regarding a new defibrillator for the community to be announced soon.

12/07/2025

A big well done to malahide and portmarnock community first responders. This is a first hand example of the importance of community first responders in the chain of survival.

INTERNATIONAL PARAMEDICS DAY 2025

Recognising the Chain of Survival – Powered by Community, Backed by Paramedics

Today, at Kilbarrack Fire Station, we were honoured to host two survivors of cardiac arrest who returned to meet the people who helped save their lives. Their presence is living proof of what happens when community action and professional response come together seamlessly.

Christy’s Story
Christy suffered a cardiac arrest after experiencing chest pain, but thanks to early recognition and rapid action by the Malahide and Portmarnock Community First Responders grpup, his life was saved. Two CFR volunteers were first on scene. They recognised the signs, administered aspirin, and stayed with Christy until his condition deteriorated. When he went into cardiac arrest, they immediately provided effective CPR.and delivered a defibrillation shock.

Shortly thereafter, D Watch Kilbarrack fire crew arrived and continued life-saving treatment with further defibrillation and advanced care. Christy regained a pulse — and today, he walked into the station to thank those involved. In an incredible coincidence, Christy is also the long-serving caretaker of Malahide Community School, tying this story even more closely with our second guest...

Stephen’s Story
Stephen, just 18 years old, suffered a cardiac arrest on the morning of his first Leaving Cert exam — also at Malahide Community School. The school staff responded instantly and perfectly, calling for help, monitoring his condition, and preparing the on-site defibrillator. Their calm response was crucial.

D Watch Kilbarrack once again were the first emergency responders, supported by an ambulance crew from North Strand fire station. The combined efforts of school staff and DFB paramedics resulted in Stephen regaining a pulse. Today, Stephen and his family met the firefighters who helped save his life.

Every DFB firefighter is a trained Paramedic or Advanced Paramedic, but the chain of survival doesn’t start with us — it starts with a bystander willing to act, a community trained to respond, and someone who makes that call.

These stories show us the power of early recognition, early CPR, and early defibrillation — and how working together, we save lives.

On this International Paramedics Day, we salute not just the paramedics — but everyone who steps up in a moment of crisis. Your actions matter.

30/04/2025

Bayside community first responders will be participating in a joint exercise in howth this evening. This will involve multiple voluntary services and there is no cause for concern from the public.

22/11/2024

You've heard about the legend, now:
Meet the volunteer: Eric Flanagan.

Eric joined Dublin Airport Fire Service in 2009 and works as a Firefighter/ Advanced Paramedic.

“I joined our local Bayside CFR group after Ruairí had organised an open day to showcase what the group do & to recruit new members.
Having worked in the emergency services for more than 15 years, I was fully aware of the brilliant job these volunteers do , and how vital their role is in delivering care to the community .

I have been very lucky in my career , receiving courses and training and saw this as an opportunity to give something back to my community.

With the frontline services getting busier & busier , our local community first responder groups can be first on scene , delivering time critical treatment to people really in need.
I would always recommend people that are interested to get in contact with their local group.
The training is excellent and giving up a small bit of your time can really make a big difference to the lives of people in your community.”

Interested in joining? Email [email protected]

CFR Ireland

17/11/2024

On Friday two volunteers from Bayside and Howth Community First Responders were dispatched to a cardiac arrest in baldoyle. After 30 minutes of CPR a successful ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation) was achieved. This is an absolutely massive result and our thanks to Eoin from Howth/Bayside CFR and Eric from Bayside who is a volunteer and also an advanced paramedic. Our thanks also to the Pathfinder team and DFB. National Ambulance Service (NAS) CFR Ireland

(Image used for illustration purposes)

23/10/2024

Gerry from Bayside CFR attended two calls this evening with in an hour of each other! Both calls were cardiac related.


Community First Responders. It's what we do

31/08/2024

Well done to Eric and Malahide and Portmarnock Community First Responders for educating the public on the use of Naloxone (Narcan) and CPR at donaghmede shopping centre

Eric is an Advanced Paramedic with Dublin Airport Fire Brigade and a community first responder with Bayside. His expertise and support is invaluable