Pictured with the Minster for Defence, Mr. Willie O\x92Dea T.D. at the launch of 10 new ambulances for the Irish Red Cross at The Millstream, University of Limerick is Ms. Hilary Parkinson \x96 PRO for the Limerick Area, Dr. Andrew Kelly \x96 ADU for Co. Limerick, Minister O\x92Dea, and Mr. Fintan Breen \x96 Unit Officer for Limerick City

The six newly-acquired ambulances and four mini-buses were officially handed over to branches of the Irish Red Cross by the Minister for Defence, Mr. Willie O'Dea TD, at The Millstream, University of Limerick, today, (Saturday 3rd November 2007).

The 10 vehicles represent the ongoing change within the Irish Red Cross ambulance fleet modernisation programme, which has seen the replacement of 76 older vehicles with 51 new ambulances and 9 new mini-buses over the past five years. These vehicles have improved off-road and mobile control facilities, as well as capabilities for those with disabilities.

The new ambulances and mini-buses will benefit communities in Limerick, Clonmel, Offaly, Laois, Navan, Slane, Roscrea, Bantry, Tipperary, and Midleton. The ambulances will help Red Cross volunteers provide First Aid and casualty care at neighbourhood sporting and community events.

The four new mini-buses will allow the Irish Red Cross to transport their own members to major events, where they provide First Aid services. They will also provide necessary transport services for the infirm, senior citizens and disadvantaged groups within these communities.

Mr Tony Lawlor, Vice Chairman Irish Red Cross said that the new vehicles, along with those already deployed by the Irish Red Cross Fleet modernisation programme, represented a \x805.2 million investment with up to 30% of the funds coming from generous donations from communities throughout the country.

"To date we have replaced almost 60 ambulances and this has been made possible thanks to the generous public donations and the continuing support from the Government. We have just twelve old road ambulances remaining to be replaced and this should be achieved by the end of 2008," he said.

All Irish Red Cross ambulances carry automated external defibrillators, and since 2006, more than 100 community groups have now purchased defibrillators from the Irish Red Cross, and we have had over 1,000 new members join our organisation as a result of the organisations efforts to engage with community groups and encourage fund-raising towards defibrillator provision and training.

New ambulances for Red Cross - Background

1. The Irish Red Cross has invested over Euro 3 million in upgrading and expanding its ambulance fleet since a programme of renewal got underway around the country in 2002.
2. The new national plan to deal with emergencies that arise \x96 the National Emergency Framework \x96 sets out the role of the Irish Red Cross, alongside the statutory emergency back-up services of the Defence Forces and Civil Defence.
3. To meet the needs of emergencies today, in line with the National Emergency Framework and local or regional emergency plans, the Irish Red Cross undertook this extensive ambulance and equipment programme.
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 \x96 for the first time \x96 a mobile command and control unit and off-road vehicles, as well as traditional ambulances and minibuses.
5. The Irish Red Cross is the most widely recognised provider of First Aid training in Ireland.
6. One of the most acute and dangerous conditions in Ireland is cardiac arrest, the Irish Red Cross has doubled its cardiac arrest response capacity in the last three years.
7. Evidence shows that for each minute's delay in delivering a shock to a casualty in cardiac arrest (ventricular fibrillation) there is a 10% reduction in survival rates.
8. Ireland has one of the highest rates of cardiac mortality in Europe (fourth-highest)
9. 18 people die in out of hospital cardiac arrest in Ireland every day \x96 that's 6,000 people a year \x96 estimates indicate that as many as half of these could be saved with the swift application of a defibrillator.
10. In 2006, the Irish Red Cross launched its "Cross Out Day" campaign to provide defibrillators to groups of people who are not Red Cross members in clubs and communities around Ireland.