Over 1,000 participants and supporters from all over Europe are expected to travel to Limerick, which the Irish Red Cross selected as the venue for these international competitions – the first time ever that this prestigious event has taken place in Ireland.

Paul O'Connell said that he was delighted to support this event and hoped that the residents and, in particular, the business community in Munster get behind the event as he believed it was a wonderful opportunity to promote the city and its people.

"First Aid is one of the most important skills anybody can have. I see the need for these skills on the rugby pitch, in the workplace and in the home. I hope that by hosting the international competitions in Limerick we can encourage young people to learn about First Aid."

"But, wearing my Limerick hat, I also want the people of Limerick to get behind our local Branch of the Irish Red Cross who have proven that they are among the best in Europe " he said.

Mr David Andrews, Chairman of the Irish Red Cross, said that the international competitions had been running for almost 25 years and this was the first time they would come to Ireland.

"This is a really strong vote of confidence in the Irish Red Cross in Limerick and it is a great credit to its volunteers that they are prepared to showcase this city and our country in this way.

"I thank Paul O'Connell for supporting us and I ask the local and national business community to consider supporting us through sponsorship. I also encourage parents to bring their children to see the competitions and to experience the level of skill these people have in life saving First Aid," he said.

Studies show that immediate application of some First Aid techniques, such as defibrillation and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, can increase the survival chances of a casualty in danger by up to 40%.

The Red Cross says now is the time to help smaller and more isolated communities, in particular, improve their capacities and knowledge in dealing with local needs. And it cites its success in providing life-saving defibrillators and training to 50 communities around the country since last year as proof of its ability to meet the Government's targets as laid down in the taskforce report on Sudden Cardiac Death last year.

By hosting the First Aid Convention in Europe, the Irish Red Cross, which has won the overall prize three times, hopes to further raise the interest of Irish people in First Aid. And, with its strong Limerick branches, the Irish Red Cross is also aiming to showcase the city to all of its fellow Red Cross organisations throughout Europe.

Facts and Figures

First Aid Convention in Euorpe (FACE)

• FACE is the annual international First Aid competition run by the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.
• It is therefore the hallmark of excellence and is the only international recognition for life-saving First Aid.
• It is open to all Red Cross/Red Crescent members in Europe with selection for entry normally done by knockout competitions that take place in each European country.
• Each year about 25 countries compete against one another to win the FACE trophy
• Ireland has won this event more often than almost any other country, even though it faces intense competitions from much bigger European neighbours.
• This is the first time ever that the Irish Red Cross has been selected to host this event
• The FACE festival-event take place in the University of Limerick from the 5 - 8 July next.
• The main international competition will take place on Saturday 7 July.
• Everyone is welcome to join in the fun and learn a few life-saving First Aid skills by coming to the university
• The competitions take the form of over 20 different First Aid scenarios, these are lifelike reproductions of accidents and injuries with competitors tested on their speed, skill and kindness when treating patients.
• Scenarios in the past have included treatment for both children and adults for choking, burns, traumas (such as car-accident injuries) and heart failure.

Irish Red Cross Background Information: Europe, Ireland and First Aid.

• More than a hundred million medical interventions are required in Europe every year as a result of accidents, cardiac arrests and disasters
• Some countries in Europe have made learning First Aid compulsory

  • In Austria and Germany, about 80% of the population now know First Aid because laws passed nearly 40 years ago made it part of the driving test.
  • In Sweden, First Aid is taught in schools.

• In Ireland about five per cent of people know First Aid
• Ireland has one of the highest cardiac fatality rates in Europe.
• Every day in Ireland about 18 people die from out of hospital cardiac arrest
• Just 1% of cardiac arrest victims survive
• 5 minutes is the target time – from emergency call to defibrillation - recommended by the European Society of Cardiology
• In the UK, where a National Defibrillator Programme began in 1999, the estimated response time is just over 3 minutes.
• In Ireland, the estimated response time is from 9 - 25 minutes.
• This yearÂ's hosting of the European First Aid competitions is yet another step towards the goal of achieving widespread knowledge of First Aid, by the Irish Red Cross which to date has:

  • Trained more than 34,000 people in First Aid and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in the last three years. CPR is essential for using defibrillators
  • Provided approximately 50 communities across the country with defibrillators as a result of last yearÂ's initiative Â"Cross Out DayÂ"
  • Invested over €2 million in ambulances to serve the public

The Irish Red Cross is a voluntary organisation and relies on ordinary people to join as volunteers or to support its work by donations. It has approximately 115 branches throughout the country and is part of the worldÂ's largest voluntary movement, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement which has 97 million volunteers in 185 countries around the world.