The Air Ambulance responded to 53 emergency incidents in Cork in the first part of 2021
You never know when you might need their help.
Already this year, 53 patients have benefited from the fast action of the Irish Community Air Ambulance.
Based in Rathcoole, the service works in tandem with the National Ambulance Service to provide both paramedic support and transport to hospital for seriously ill patients.
New figures from the ICAA show that March was the single busiest month since the start of the year, with the Air Ambulance being tasked a total of 47 times. There were 41 missions in February and 39 in January.
- 18 road traffic collisions
- 18 farming accidents
- 15 general trauma calls
- 15 general medical calls
- 10 falls from heights
- 4 equestrian incidents
‘I’m so grateful to them’
Emma McGuire (22) from Douglas in Cork was travelling to Tralee with a friend on March 8th last year when they were involved in a serious crash between Killarney and Tralee.
Emma said the last thing she remembers before the crash is coming to the roundabout in Killarney. Her next memory is waking up in the hospital more than 24 hours later.
What Emma didn’t know is that she had been flown by the Irish Community Air Ambulance to Cork University Hospital in critical condition. Her spleen had burst, she had to be resuscitated at the hospital and was given 14 units of blood to keep her alive.
Emma underwent emergency surgery that night to remove her spleen and the following day she had further surgery on her femur and ankle. Emma also underwent surgery at Tallaght University Hospital for a fractured pelvis before returning to CUH. It was June before she finally returned home.
“I’m so grateful to them, I’m so lucky that there was something or someone looking out for me that day,” said Emma.
