Teen Red Cross lifesavers vie for national honours

And Red Cross Vice-Chairman, Tony Lawlor is appealing to young people everywhere to join the Red Cross now as new members are needed for expanding services around the country.

Mostly teenagers and twenty-somethings, (the Cadets are aged between 12 and 16, while Novices can be any age but must be new to First Aid) the Red Cross members will be faced with up to ten different simulated accidents and sudden illnesses

This series of tests has comprised a car-crash with multiple casualties, poisonings, and anaphylactic (allergic) reaction scenarios in previous years' competitions.

Praising the young people for participating in the competitions, Irish Red Cross Vice-Chairman, Tony Lawlor highlighted the recent tragic sudden deaths among young people, such as Cormac Macanallen and said he hoped that more young people would now join the Red Cross.

"Quick-thinking and the ability to remain calm is absolutely essential for members of the Red Cross and we now need more young people whom we can train in First Aid to save lives

"Given the alarming statistics of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS), particularly amongst young active people this summer, I would hope that young people in particular would join their nearest Red Cross unit as we roll-out our new defibrillator equipment to counteract this very tragic phenomenon especially among sports people," said Tony Lawlor.

In the last 12 months the Red Cross has doubled the number of defibrillators on its nationwide fleet of ambulances and regularly provides emergency voluntary ambulance services at sports and cultural events around the country.

You are invited to attend or send a representative to the Cadet and Novice Competitions.
Date: Saturday 9 October 2004.
Time: 1pm - 5pm.
Venue: Haywood Community School, Ballinakill, Co. Laois.
(Ballinakill is three miles from Abbeyleix).

Presentations of trophies will take place in the Manor Hotel, Abbeyleix,
following a meal at 7pm.

Our photographer, Jean-Pierre Launay of Castletown, Co. Laois will be in attendance. Photographs are available for purchase from Jean-Pierre. He can be contacted at:
+353 (0502) - 56282
+353 (86) 879 8895
launayphoto@eircom.net
www.iolfree.ie/~photojplaunay

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