Limerick Ambulance team win top Red Cross prize

Second place went to the team from Co. Wicklow and third place was won by the team from Co. Louth. Teams from Dublin and Roscommon took fourth and fifth places.

Irish Red Cross Vice-Chairman, Tony Lawlor, commended the Limerick team for once again setting a high standard and he also complimented the other teams for their hard work and proven skills. Congratulating all those who took part, Tony Lawlor said "It is essential that Irish Red Cross members compete at national and international events such as these in order to keep up with all of the latest trends and developments in emergency casualty care.

"Competitions like this ensure that in the real-life situations that we face every day, either working with the HSE or attending community events, we can deal with the needs of sick or injured people under pressure of all kinds."

Tony Lawlor also thanked the many young people who played the part of "casualties" at the event and he also thanked the organisers of the competition, adjudicators and count centre officials for their hard work in making the event such a success.

The next Irish Red Cross national event is the President’s Perpetual Trophy, taking place in Co. Laois on Saturday 10 May next.

View a photo Gallery from the Competition

Notes to Editor

1. The National Ambulance Competitions involved a series of realistic First Aid challenges such as road traffic accidents, disturbances at a concert, and spinal injuries at the scene of a cycle accident, laid out over a 3.5km circuit.
2. These challenges presented realistic scenarios that ambulance personnel would deal with on a daily basis; "casualties" with cardiac arrest, crush injuries and broken bones needed to be "treated" at each of the scenarios.
3. Every day communities across Ireland rely on our members to comfort them and in some cases save their lives. These competitions demonstrate the ability of Red Cross members – who are all volunteers - to help people in serious difficulty.
4. The Irish Red Cross has approximately 90 ambulances, off-road ambulances, minibuses, wheelchair adapted minibuses, and mobile command and control vehicles located throughout Ireland, having invested €6.5million in upgrading its fleet in the last seven years.
5. The Irish Red Cross this year celebrates its 70th anniversary providing care to people who need it most throughout Ireland and around the world.