A Defibrillator (AED) has been in Whitechurch Community Centre since 2009. At this time, Whitechurch and Waterloo Community Association and the Heartsaver committee would have liked to purchase a second AED but it was cost prohibitive and there was the added expense of training people and training trainers. In January this year the Heartsaver Committee organised a walk two evenings per week, over 8 weeks around the Sli Geal walkway. Participants donated €10 towards this walk, which made €730. Additionally Whitechurch Foroige held a cake sale and bag packing, which raised €805, and the Primary School, who use the walkway during the day, organised a sponsored walk and raised €350 towards this project. The committee were nearly there and Ted Roche, Whitechurch Service Station, stepped into the breach and sponsored the shortfall, enabling them to purchase a new AED and two new, heated, alarmed AED Cabinets. Ted also agreed to erect the AED at the front of the Service Station and the existing AED was re located to a cabinet on the front wall of the Community Centre where it can’t be missed. There are over 100 people trained in CPR and use of the AED by local trainers, Fiona O’Sullivan, Tim Foley and Jason Kelly. Many of those trained are heavily involved in our local clubs, it must be stressed that the AED should only be used by trained personnel and should not under any circumstances be used on a healthy person. Thanks were paid to all who contributed so generously to the new AED; Foroige, St. Patricks National School, and Whitechurch & Whitechurch Service station. If anybody is interested in training, please contact Martina at the Community Centre on 085 1695758
