Mr Lawlor was speaking at the launch of a further three new ambulances paid for by members of the Irish Red Cross, bringing the total investment in new ambulances by the organisation to nearly €6.5million in six years.

“This Christmas and every Christmas, our members - who are all volunteers - will be providing First Aid services to communities around the country at matches, race meetings and community events. The Red Cross would ask that people avoid putting themselves at risk; Icy footpaths, alcohol, and food with small bones or that could cause allergic reactions, all pose a threat to people’s safety. We ask that people take care to avoid accidents at home and when out socialising to ensure that they have a pleasant injury-free Christmas,” Mr Lawlor said.

The three new Red Cross ambulances will be deployed in Kanturk, Co. Cork, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary and Clane, Co.Kildrare., following their formal launch yesterday (Saturday) by the Minister for State at the Department of Finance, Dr Martin Mansergh in Carrick-on-Suir.

Background Information

1. The Irish Red Cross has invested nearly Euro 6.5 million in upgrading and expanding its ambulance fleet since a programme of renewal got underway around the country in 2002.
2. Some 85 vehicles including traditional ambulances, off-road ambulances, mobile command and control centres, minibuses and wheelchair-adaptable minibuses have been made available to communities throughout Ireland by the Irish Red Cross which is a voluntary organisation.
3. This investment got underway to meet the needs of the new national plan to deal with emergencies that arise – the Framework for Major Emergency Management which recognises the role of the Irish Red Cross, alongside the statutory emergency services and other bodies.
4. The ambulance replacement programme will increase the organisation’s ability to deal with new kinds of emergencies that require faster responses and the ability to reach more remote areas, by introducing – for the first time – mobile command and control units in addition to its traditional ambulances, minibuses, wheelchair-adapted minibuses and off-road vehicles.
5. The Irish Red Cross is the most widely recognised provider of First Aid training in Ireland.[1]
6. The Irish Red Cross is a leading provider of immediate cardiac care and training through an extensive programme of defibrillator provision to every county in Ireland. Defibrillators are small electric devices that can shock a casualty in cardiac arrest.
7. The Irish Red Cross is a voluntary organisation with over 140 branches in every county in Ireland.
8. The Irish Red Cross is part of the largest voluntary organisation in the world, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement which has 97 million volunteers in 187 countries.
9. Through its founder and its own achievements, the Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement has won the Nobel Peace Prize more often than any other single entity – four times in total.
10. In 2009 both the Irish Red Cross and its international affiliates will celebrate their founding anniversaries, with 70 years of the Red Cross in Ireland.

Contact: Aoife Mac Eoin. 087 – 998 3788.