Thurles Order of Malta « Thurles Information

New Ambulance For Thurles Order of Malta.

Mr Gerard Fogarty, Deputy Officer In Charge, Thurles Order of Malta Ambulance Corps, reports:-

Order of Malta Ambulance Corps Thurles are proud to launch their new road ambulance this month.

The Ford Transit, kindly donated by the National Ambulance Service, will replace the ageing Mercedes Sprinter, which has given the unit in Thurles many years of great service.

As with their other road ambulances, it is fitted with all of the state-of-the-art pre-hospital emergency care equipment and medications required by their personnel (Emergency Medical Technicians and Emergency First Responders) providing the primarily care to cater for all major emergencies. The equipment provided includes:- automated external defibrillator, electrocardiogram heart monitor, terrestrial digital radio, wheelchair/stretcher lift, adjustable stretcher, emergency extrication equipment etc.

The Unit’s fleet of three road ambulances, minibus and off-road ambulance are well-known around Thurles through their involvement in busy work schedules; providing emergency medical support at national and local events including Semple stadium and Thurles Racecourse, while providing transport to sick and special needs passengers, thus ensuring visits to hospital, while also supporting necessary social visits.

Thurles Order of Malta Ambulance Corps Members would like to thank the generous parishioners of Holycross, Ballycahill, and Thurles for their kind support of Annual Church Gate Collections Appeal over the last two weekends.

All funds collected directly contribute to the ongoing maintenance costs of the strong volunteer-operated ambulance fleet.

Saving Lives – Touching Lives – Changing Lives

Order of Malta Ireland Ambulance Corps Thurles.

The Order of Malta Ambulance Corps, situated at Boheravoroon, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, will be holding their Annual Table Quiz in aid of their Lourdes Fund on tomorrow night Friday 23rd March in Hayes Hotel, by kind permission of the Hotel’s Management.

The event starts sharp at 9.00pm and your generous support of this necessary fund-raiser would be greatly appreciated.

Do keep in mind that every year members of the Order of Malta, from right around the globe, support ill patients during their Annual Lourdes Pilgrimage, and all funds raised from tomorrow nights event will go towards the cost of this years Thurles pilgrimage.

Thurles Order Of Malta Assist With Response To Storm Emma

The Deputy Officer In Charge Thurles Order of Malta Ambulance Corps, Mr Gerard Fogarty, reports:-

Thurles Order of Malta volunteers Jaela Burke & Marcus McMahon.

The Thurles Unit of the Order of Malta Ireland were placed on standby at 7.00am on Wednesday last and remained on duty (24/7) in their 4×4 ambulance until Monday evening last. The Joint Voluntary Control Centre (JVCC) were up and running from that moment.

The aim of the JVCC is to provide the Health Service Executive (HSE) National Emergency Operations Centre with a single point of contact with the voluntary ambulance sector. This control centre is based in the Order of Malta National Headquarters in Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin. The JVCC is made up of The Irish Red Cross, St. John’s Ireland and Order of Malta Ireland.
Some 3,000 members throughout the country were placed on standby from Wednesday morning and most had been active from that moment.

Captain Adrian Fallon, National Emergency Planning and Communications Officer stated: “It is great to be part of a large community of volunteers who are willing to give their time to assist their colleagues in the Statutory Service and the local communities. This process highlights the excellent working relationship between all parties, both voluntary and statutory, on how we can come together to plan and prepare for the good of those around the country who need assistance”.

Using our high-tech Tetra radio system, Thurles were able to communicate with the JVCC and were able to respond within minutes to the calls. Some of the tasks undertaken by the Thurles Unit in recent days included the transport of the public health nurse in order for her to complete her tasks and transport to and from the A&E. Members, who are all volunteers, also assisted the National Ambulance Service with emergency calls, helping to access areas that ordinary ambulances could not go.

“The conditions at times were treacherous and we had to be careful so that we did not end up injured or casualties ourselves,” said Irene O’Loughlin, Officer in Charge.

The Order of Malta Thurles Unit is a non-profit organisation and all members are volunteers. Irene said: “All donations we receive go directly into providing first aid and emergency care to the people of Thurles area and beyond.”

For more on the work of The Order of Malta visit http://www.orderofmaltaireland.org/ or follow the Order of Malta Ireland Thurles Unit, HERE on Facebook

Order of Malta – Annual Lourdes Pilgrimage

Thurles Order of Malta Ambulance Corps – Mr Gerard Fogarty, Unit Deputy Officer In Charge, Parnell Street, Thurles reports:-

Officer In Charge of Order of Malta Ambulance Corps Thurles, namely Ms Catherine O’Loughlin has requested that she now receive names and deposits from any members interested in attending the Annual Lourdes Pilgrimage from the May 4th to May 9th.

A recertification course has begun on Saturdays for all members who require their EFR Certificate to be renewed.

The Thurles Unit would like to acknowledge the kind support of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, and the Tipperary Education and Training Board in their grant of €5,000 from the Youth Club Equipment Scheme 2017, which has allowed for the purchase of a range of essential state-of-the-art training equipment which will be used by the Cadet Unit and youth members in their weekly training.

Order of Malta Thurles – Adam’s Gift CPR Awareness Week

Thurles Order of Malta Ambulance Corps – Mr Gerard Fogarty, Unit Deputy Officer In Charge, Parnell Street, Thurles reports:-

Order of Malta Ambulance Corps Cadets Thurles will be holding CPR demonstrations and training for members of the public (latter training for all age groups), at their premises in Boheravoroon, Thurles, on Saturday 11th November next, from 10.00am to 1.00pm, to mark their Annual Adam’s Gift CPR Awareness Week.

Some 3,500 cardiac arrests occurred in 2016 – Just over 50% had CPR attempted – Education is key to ensuring increased survival rates.

CPR training helps an individual to recognise and manage cardiac arrest, and potentially save a life. Last year more than 2,800 people received free CPR training during the week. CPR saves lives and we have had feedback of a number of potential fatalities that were prevented as a result of individuals receiving training over the few short years of the project.

I would like to commend our volunteers who provided 870 hours of training just last year. We expect that this year will be even more enhanced.

Adam’s Gift CPR Awareness:

Adam McAndrew, a 13-year old and the son of Order of Malta unit member Kerry, died two years ago from sudden cardiac death. Despite her grief and heartbreak, Kerry began an initiative to make Adam’s classmates aware of CPR and the importance of early access to Auto External Defibrillator (AED) emergency services and good quality CPR. Levels of CPR awareness are comparatively low in this country so Order of Malta Ireland is working with Kerry to amplify the message, encourage more people to learn the skill, and potentially save lives.

The Unit’s Annual Mass for Deceased Member’s will take place on Friday next the 10th November at 7.00pm, at Boheravoroon, (Borroway), Thurles, with the blessing of the Unit’s newest ambulance also taking place. All members, their friends and family are most welcome to attend.