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Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána Launch Garda First Responder Pilot Programme
3 Mar 2006
The Garda First Responder Programme is a community based pilot scheme whereby Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown and An Garda Síochána have fitted Automated External Defibrillators (AED) equipment in on-duty Garda patrol cars in one rural (Kilkenny) and one urban area (Blanchardstown). This is the first public access defibrillation programme in Ireland to include the Garda Síochána.

Connolly Hospital, CPR (Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation) Department together with An Garda Síochána have trained approximately 140 Gardaí in CPR and AED and placed AED equipment in 13 uniform Garda patrol vehicles. With the support of accident and other emergency services, uniform patrol vehicles in the pilot areas will respond to emergency calls where a cardiac arrest may have occurred.


Defibrillation within 5 minutes of cardiac arrest is a potentially life saving option for the thousands of Irish people who experience sudden cardiac arrest. Survival rates decrease by 10% for every minute from "drop to shock", that is, the time between cardiac arrest and defibrillation.

International experience to date has shown that the greatest success in public access defibrillation has been in the use of community based patrol cars. The Gardaí will work in co-operation with the Eastern Regional Ambulance Service and Dublin Fire Brigade to ensure the success of the pilot.