Portlaoise Community First Responders to Host Public Information Day 

World Restart a Heart Day takes place on Friday 16 October 2026, and as part of this worldwide event, Portlaoise Community First Responders will be holding a public information event in Laois Shopping Centre on Saturday 17th October 2026 from 10am to 2pm to raise awareness of the importance of CPR and AED-use in the chain of survival in cardiac arrest situations.

At this event, members of the public can come along and talk to the team, see demonstrations of CPR and AED-use & even try it for themselves.

The importance of CPR and use of an AED in cardiac arrest situations cannot be over emphasised. To put it into perspective, as per National Ambulance Service statistics, in 2025, there were 2,885 cardiac arrests & of that 68% (1,962) occurred as home. Of the total cardiac arrests, 1,000 had a bystander carry out CPD (that's 35%) and out of that 339 had shocks delivered by a publicly available AED (a PAD). Of the 339 instances of where shocks were delivered 90 survived. The scary statistic is that for every minute that passes without CPR or the use of an AED, there is a decrease of between 7 - 10% in the chance of survival.

Portlaoise Community First Responders (PCFR) is a group of 10 local volunteers, living in Portlaoise, who provide support to the National Ambulance Service (NAS). They operate within a 7km radius of the centre of Portlaoise and provide a rapid, community-based response to emergency calls involving, cardiac arrest, heart attacks, chest pains, stroke and choaking.

The group also provide CPR and AED-use training for the local community and are responsible for raising awareness of and maintaining the 6 local Public Access Defibrillator (PADs) in and around Portlaoise.

The group was set up in March 2025 and after their initial period if training, they went ‘live’ in January 2025. Since January 2025, Portlaoise Community First Responders (PCFR) have attended over 200 emergency calls within the Portlaoise community, involving cardiac arrest, heart attacks, chest pains, stroke and choaking.

They bridge that gap between a 999/112 call and the ambulance arriving, providing support to patients and their loved ones during these very stressful times.

Portlaoise Community First Responders (PCFR) have also trained over 200 people in various local community groups, schools and businesses in CPR and AED-use, so they too have the skills to save a life.

In August 2026, Portlaoise Community First Responders (PCFR) launched a local publicity campaign to raise awareness of the need for additional Public Access Defibrillator / AEDs (PADs) in and around Portlaoise.

There are currently only 6 PADs, serving a population of over 25,000, and the group are aiming to increase this by 5 additional PADs.

In addition to this, the group’s hope is that each housing development in Portlaoise will also have access to its own PAD serving its residents.

To facilitate this aim going forward, Portlaoise Community First Responders (PCFR) has asked the local planning department to consider including a condition for all future residential, commercial & industrial planning applications that the installation of a PAD is a requirement.

The groups ultimate aim is that there will be a PAD within 1km (average drive of 6 minutes round-trip) of an emergency.

The launch in Portlaoise on 5th August was attended by a number of our public representatives (TD’s & Senators) & local representative, including the Cathaoirleach Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald.

As part of this launch the group called on the local community, local businesses & the County Council to support this campaign and to help to raise the funds needed. It was explained that each PAD costs approximately €2,000 purchase & install and once installed, each PAD would be registered with the National Ambulance Service and available to the public for use in emergency situations to assist with saving lives. Once operational, Portlaoise Community First Responders, would take responsibility for their maintenance and upkeep.

With that in mind the group is calling on all local community groups, schools, medical facilities and businesses who have an AED to register their AED with National Ambulance Service so an accurate register of available AED’s is kept so to assist the 999 / 112 call taker in locating the nearest available AED whenever one is required.

To enquire about volunteering or donating to Portlaoise Community First Responders email them at portlaoisecfrinfo@gmail.com. Find their online fundraising page called ‘Public Access Defibrillator Fundraiser – Portlaoise on gofundme.com.