There are calls for more Government support for the Community Air Ambulance, which was tasked 512 times last year.
The organisation says more than €2 million is needed to run charity service in 2022, given the level of demand.
The Irish Community Air Ambulance was tasked to 512 missions in 14 counties including Waterford during 2021, its busiest year since the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Air Ambulance launched in July 2019.
There were 490 taskings in 2020.
The organisation is Ireland’s only charity-funded HEMS Air Ambulance. It works in partnership with the National Ambulance Service and responds to serious incidents and medical emergencies from its base in Rathcool, Co. Cork. Each helicopter mission costs an average of €3,500, all of which has to be raised or donated.
The CEO of the Irish Community Air Ambulance, Micheál Sheridan said that they engaged with the Government and regional political leaders throughout 2021 to secure some State support for the vital service.
The HSE is releasing funding to private Ambulance firms to provide support during the continuing crisis yet the Irish Community Air Ambulance is still entirely funded by public donations. The increased number of taskings during 2021 show that we provide a vital service.
Community Air Ambulance calls
Michael Sheridan says were more calls to cardiac arrests, farming-related incidents and falls from heights during 2021. Cardiac arrests accounted for one in five calls with 103 taskings last year, that’s up from 81 during 2020.
Amongst the incidents responded to were:
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89 Road traffic collisions
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64 Farming incidents
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64 Cardiovascular (Heart attacks and strokes)
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63 General trauma calls
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61 General medical calls
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48 Falls from heights
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20 Equestrian incidents
July and April were the busiest months of the year for the service with 57 missions completed each month. Cork, Kerry and Tipperary accounted for the majority of taskings. The Irish Community Air Ambulance was also tasked to Waterford, Clare, Limerick, Wexford, Kilkenny, Mayo, Galway, Offaly, Laois, Wicklow and Kildare.
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