Real life Bravehearts the difference between life and death in Trim

Valentine’s is one day when the affairs of the heart are put firmly in the spotlight; when love and romance are celebrated...One group of people based in Trim are also firmly focused on the heart - but in a radically different way than that portrayed by the flowers or boxes of expensive chocolates. Their mission is much more serious - to help people whose lives are suddenly threatened. 

They are the members of the Dr Brody Braveheart Community First Responders Group (DBBCFRG) group; a group made up of volunteers who have banded together to do what they can to help those in need in their local community. The primary task of the group is to respond to calls to assist people brought low by a medical 'event' such as chest pain, cardiac arrest, choking or stroke.
As the name suggests, the essential, primary task of first responders is to get to a patient as quickly as possible - and treat him or her until the ambulance or a doctor arrives. Every millisecond counts.  
Last Wednesday night, the Dr Brody Braveheart Community First Responders (who were formed in September and went 'live' in November) were officially launched at the Diocesan Hall on Loman Street in the town. 
The group is named after Dr Jack Brody, a hugely popular medic who lived and worked in Trim - and at the launch messages from Dr Brody's family were read out. Dr Brody's son Michael outlined how he and his siblings Paula, Mary and John were honoured to have a group named after their father who seeks to provide assistance to people in critical, often traumatic moments in their lives. Everyone agreed it was a fitting tribute. 
Two members of the Dr Brody Braveheart CFR Group includes the chairman JJ Fagan and member Jane McSherry.

 

JJ FAGAN

When he got wind that a group of first responders was setting up in Trim, JJ Fagan was interested. Very interested. He felt there was a need for such a group in the area - and with the knowledge he possessed he knew he could help out, big time. It was about giving something back. 
"I heard about the meeting (to set up the group) and I went to it. Next thing I knew I was chairperson and co-ordinator but that doesn't mean I'm the driving force, far from it. There are other people, they are all workers, all volunteers, they all have very important roles to play," explained JJ whose wife Catherine worked for many years as secretary to Dr Brody and fondly recalled last Wednesday night his good humour and dedication to the local community. 
Now retired and living in Trim, JJ had spent 41 years working as a paramedic and he aims to use the vast reservoir of experience to do what he can for the group - and, perhaps in the process save lives. Since the Dr Brody Braveheart CFR was set up they have responded to just over 20 call outs, including cardiac arrests. 
Not that the group is exclusively made of people with medical experience. Far from it. The vast majority are from non-medical backgrounds who just want to help their community, although it's not just a matter of showing up and joining. To become an active first responder volunteers must complete a Community First Responders Network course. It's all part of getting ready for the call to action. 
JJ, who is originally from Summerhill, points out that while paramedics and first responders obviously have a crucial part to play in saving someone's life, those close to the patient also have a vital role - by knowing the local area code. It can literally be the difference between life and death. 
"The biggest thing is for us that when people make an emergency they can be in a state of panic, a state of shock, it's understandable. After all somebody in the house is just after collapsing, maybe their husband or wife, whatever the case might be, and all of a sudden they are only interested in getting an ambulance. 
"In that situation most important thing is the area code. If they give the area code we will get there. The code is the thing that can bring us directly to the door."
JJ wanted to join the Braveheart group because he felt it was a way to make a contribution to his community. "So far we've had a number of cardiac arrests to deal with and I heard one of those at least is alive or well, which is brilliant although we generally leave people to their own devices, we don't follow them up. If they want to come back to us and thank us that's very well but otherwise we don't follow them up."
 

 

Members of the Braveheart First Responders Group 

JANE McSHERRY

That desire to give something to the community was also what encouraged Jane McSherry to join the Dr Brody Braveheart group.
Approached by a friend she was happy to join up. She too felt such a group was badly needed. She was also willing to give up her time even though she works with a property management company, is also a mother of two and coaches an underage rugby team at Navan RFC. Her husband Mark is also a member. 
"Trim is a large town and our group operate within a five mile radius of the local courthouse as the crow flies and we think approximately 10,000 live in that area which is an awful lot of people," she adds before going on to outline how the Dr Brody Braveheart Group seek to help those in need.  
"With strokes, for example, they say time is of the essence, it's the same with chest pains, cardiac arrests, the sooner you start working on someone the better chance they have of survival. We are just one link in the chain of survival, the ambulance service is another and they are brilliant."
Emphasising how she is just a humble member of the Dr Brody Braveheart group,  Jane recalls how badly-needed finance was generated to purchase the group's first defibrillator with local people willingly making financial contributions. The management of the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim were also a big help, allowing the Braveheart Group a place in a Christmas fare event where funds could be generated.  
A former member of the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation, Jane says she wasn't involved in many rescues in that role but the experience she picked up will surely stand to her. 
The Dr Brody Braveheart CFR Group, is she adds, not just about looking after the person struck down with a medical 'event.' Ther are other important roles to be filled. 
"We are also there to help the patient's family if they are around. Sometimes we might have to deal with traffic, make a scene safe for everybody working around it. We are there as well for families to ask questions. They might wish to tell us things about the person we can relate back to the paramedics." 
Jane points to the vital importance of people knowing their area code. It makes it all much easier. 
Valentine's Day may be about love and romance but there are other matter of the heart that need looking after  - and one group in Trim are seeking to do just that.