Critical - Emergency Medical Response

Critical - Emergency Medical Response Ireland’s Leading Volunteer Emergency Medical Response Charity CRITICAL is the largest Volunteer Emergency Medical Response charity in Ireland.

CRITICAL volunteers provide pre-hospital emergency care to critically ill and injured patients in rural and urban areas across the country. Initially founded in 2009 as Irish Community Rapid Response, CRITICAL now has a growing network of volunteer responders operating in 20 counties in cities, towns, and villages. With over 160 medical volunteers, including emergency medical technicians (EMTs), p

aramedics, consultants and other qualified medical professionals, CRITICAL works in partnership with the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to respond to life-threatening emergencies. CRITICAL envisions an Ireland where communities and those living in it have equal opportunity to receive a rapid medical response in the event of a medical emergency, injury, accident, or trauma, no matter the location. We have teams of experienced Volunteer Emergency Medical Doctors, Medical Responders, and Community Responders in communities all over Ireland, with our medical response network steadily growing. We supply emergency medical response vehicles in key areas to experienced advanced or critical care doctors. These vehicles are kitted out with specialist medical equipment including defibrillators, chest compression systems and suction units as well as advanced medical and trauma kits. This allows our volunteer doctors to perform complex and often lifesaving medical procedures, wherever and whenever they’re called upon. We have ambitious plans to further expand this network. Our ground teams responded to more than 1,800 incidents over the last three years alone, working in partnership with the emergency services to give people the very best chance of survival when they find themselves seriously ill or injured. We fundraise to kit out our volunteers so they can continue their life saving work. It costs an average of €25,000 to establish an Advanced level Volunteer Doctor in the community and €120,000 to put a new Critical Care response vehicle on the road. Each lifesaving emergency backpack that we give to a responder in a community like yours costs and average of €1,500 to supply. With your help we will be able to expand this service to more locations across Ireland. Irish Community Rapid Response CLG T/A CRITICAL | Registered Charity No (RCN): 20070762

03/06/2026

We’re delighted to share that three CRITICAL Community First Responder groups are now in the running for support through the AIB Community Fund 🚑

📍 CRITICAL CFR Kilkenny
📍 CRITICAL CFR Ennis
📍 CRITICAL CFR Killaloe/Ballina

Every callout is different, but one thing stays the same: our volunteers are there when their communities need them most.

From cardiac arrests and serious accidents to medical emergencies at home, CRITICAL responders are helping deliver life-saving care before an ambulance arrives.

Your vote can help support that work and make a real difference to communities across Ireland.

Vote here: https://criticalcharity.ie/aib-community-fund/

Charity Number: 20070762
Voting closes 25 June.

Please share and help us continue responding when every second counts ❤️

🏎️💨 Beep beep! Our team is ready up for the Critical Car Show, and you can join us on June 28th!Come and see the iconic ...
02/06/2026

🏎️💨 Beep beep! Our team is ready up for the Critical Car Show, and you can join us on June 28th!

Come and see the iconic Eddie Jordan EJ11 F1 car and so much more. 🚗✨

Don’t miss out on the action we’ll see you there!

Want to showcase your own vehicle? Pre-registration for vehicle exhibits is still open. https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/TheCRITICALCarShow.

What a fantastic and incredibly busy weekend for the CRITICAL team! 🌟🚑Over the weekend, our volunteers were out in force...
02/06/2026

What a fantastic and incredibly busy weekend for the CRITICAL team! 🌟🚑

Over the weekend, our volunteers were out in force across the country, engaging with communities, sharing lifesaving skills, and raising awareness about the vital work of CRITICAL.

🌳🎶 At the Night & Day Festival in Lough Key Forest Park, Co. Roscommon, we had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of festival-goers and delivering Adult and Paediatric CPR demonstrations. It was inspiring to see so many people eager to learn how they could make a difference in an emergency situation. Every person trained is another potential lifesaver in their community. ❤️

🚂🔥 Meanwhile our volunteers and Community First Responders were attending Day 2 of the Annual Steam Rally in Innishannon, Co. Cork. Throughout the day, we showcased CPR demonstrations, spoke with members of the public about the importance of early intervention in medical emergencies, and highlighted the incredible work carried out by our volunteer doctors and CFR groups nationwide.

🙌 A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by our stands, took part in demonstrations, asked questions, and supported our mission. Your encouragement helps us continue delivering emergency medical response and community education throughout Ireland.

🏎️🚗 We were also delighted to spread the word about our exciting upcoming CRITICAL CAR SHOW taking place at Fota House & Gardens on Sunday, 28th June! This promises to be a fantastic family day out with amazing vehicles, exhibitors, entertainment, and much more.

👀 Keep an eye on our social media channels over the coming weeks as we have some exciting announcements still to come!

Thank you to our dedicated volunteers, CFR groups, volunteer doctors, supporters, and event organisers who make weekends like this possible.

What a fantastic weekend at the Night and Day Festival!!We had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful festival-goers ...
31/05/2026

What a fantastic weekend at the Night and Day Festival!!

We had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful festival-goers while showcasing our life-saving work. A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn about CPR and take part in our demonstrations.

A special shout-out goes to Pixie and Bumble from midlands.branch_irishguidedogs, who were undoubtedly our star CPR students of the weekend! 🐾❤️

Thank you all for your enthusiasm, support, and willingness to learn a skill that could one day save a life.

Last night, CRITICAL Charity was honoured to attend the Annual American Chamber of Commerce Gala Dinner in Dublin as the...
29/05/2026

Last night, CRITICAL Charity was honoured to attend the Annual American Chamber of Commerce Gala Dinner in Dublin as the proud recipient of the 2025 Cairdeas Award.

The award was kindly presented to Jim O’Kelly last year, who in 2025 suffered a major heart attack caused by a 100% blockage. CRITICAL First Responders were dispatched to the incident and provided emergency care during those critical early moments.

CEO David Tighe attended the event alongside Jim and Hilary, where they had the opportunity to meet many distinguished guests, including An Tánaiste Simon Harris.

The evening was a special reminder of the importance of community emergency response and the incredible impact that early intervention can have in saving lives which was recognised by the AmCham committee last year.

We would like to sincerely thank the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland for their continued support and recognition of the work carried out by our volunteers, doctors, CFR groups, and supporters across the country.

Every call answered, every responder mobilised, and every life touched is only possible because of the dedication of our volunteers and the support of our communities. ❤️

28/05/2026

Exhibitor registration for the inaugural CRITICAL Car Show is OPEN 🚗🔥

People have already started registering their incredible cars and we’re super excited to see the amazing lineup coming together!

Join us at Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens on Sunday, June 28th and showcase your car alongside supercars, classics, emergency vehicles and Eddie Jordan’s iconic 2001 Formula One car 🏎️

📅 June 28th | 11am–5pm
❤️ All proceeds support CRITICAL’s lifesaving work
🚘 Proudly sponsored by Skoda Ireland

Register now via the link

https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/TheCRITICALCarShow

Every day across Ireland, CRITICAL responders are helping people during some of the worst moments of their lives.Next mo...
26/05/2026

Every day across Ireland, CRITICAL responders are helping people during some of the worst moments of their lives.

Next month, the CRITICAL Car Show at Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens will give people a chance to meet the volunteers behind that work, learn more about emergency response, and support the charity’s lifesaving services in communities across the country.

Alongside supercars, vintage cars and emergency response demonstrations, visitors will also have the opportunity to meet frontline responders, learn CPR and hear more about the impact CRITICAL is making nationwide.

The event takes place on Sunday June 28th, with all proceeds helping CRITICAL continue expanding its network of volunteer responders across Ireland.

🔗 Read the full story: www.criticalcharity.ie/critical-car-show-to-drive-life-saving-awareness/

Supercars, emergency vehicles, family fun and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see Eddie Jordan’s iconic 2001 Formula One ...
25/05/2026

Supercars, emergency vehicles, family fun and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see Eddie Jordan’s iconic 2001 Formula One car up close 🏎️🔥

The inaugural CRITICAL Car Show, proudly sponsored by Skoda Ireland, is coming to Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens on Sunday, June 28th, bringing together amazing cars, emergency services demonstrations, CPR awareness and a fantastic community atmosphere for all ages.

Don’t miss this unique day out at one of Cork’s most historic venues.

📅 Save the date: 28th June | 11am–5pm

All proceeds will go directly towards supporting CRITICAL’s lifesaving work.

Want to showcase your own car at the event?
Exhibitor registration is NOW OPEN!

https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/TheCRITICALCarShow

22/05/2026

This national volunteering week we want to say thank you to every one of our community first responder groups, volunteer doctors and emergency medical responders who continue to give their time, skills and care to communities across Ireland.

Day and night these volunteers answer calls, respond to emergencies, train constantly and show up for people on some of the worst days of their lives.

The impact they make reaches far beyond the scene of an emergency. Families, friends and entire communities are safer because of them.

Thank you for everything you do, this week and every week ❤️

Critical CFR - Douglas Critical CFR - Carrick on Suir Critical CFR-Kilkenny Critical CFR- Balbriggan Ruan/Dysart CFR Group Critical Youghal First Responders Critical CFR Ennis Critical CFR Deansgrange Critical CFR - Macroom Critical CFR - Killaloe/Ballina Critical CFR Blackwater Critical CFR - West Limerick National Ambulance Service (NAS)

Incredible work recognised for Critical CFR - Carrick on Suir ❤️Members of the group recently became the first recipient...
21/05/2026

Incredible work recognised for Critical CFR - Carrick on Suir ❤️

Members of the group recently became the first recipients of the new NAS recognition pin following a successful ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation) at a cardiac arrest call.

Working alongside National Ambulance Service (NAS) and An Garda Síochána, the volunteers helped achieve an incredible outcome with the patient later discharged from hospital after making a full recovery.

Pictured with the group are Craig Wade, Mid West Community Engagement Officer with the NAS, and CRITICAL’s Head of Operations Edward Walsh.

A brilliant achievement by everyone involved and a real reflection of the difference Community First Responders make in their communities every day 👏

Address

Croom Primary Care Centre
Croom
V35XT25

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