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This is the hero doctor who is saving lives not only during work hours but also in his spare time.
Dr Keith Kennedy has responded to dozens of medical emergencies after joining Critical Charity in south Dublin. So far, he has attended 48 emergencies since July, including traumatic injuries, falls, traffic collisions, cardiac arrests, chest pains, and strokes — all during his spare time.
He was part of a multi-agency operation in August when a casualty fell 12 metres from Shanganagh Cliffs in Shankill, providing medical care at the scene and travelling in the rescue helicopter with the patient. Dr Kennedy, from Deasngrange, qualified in 2012 and specialises in emergency medicine.
He said: “I’m often asked why I volunteer to attend emergencies in my spare time after working all day in the hospital. I started volunteering with St John Ambulance when I was 10, so it’s something I’ve always done.
“I look after strangers as part of my job and I believe I should also be available to my neighbours and local community in their time of need. We all know how important early intervention is when someone suddenly falls ill or suffers a trauma.
“I work closely with the National Ambulance Service crews and local CFR Group to bring advanced skills, experience and medical equipment to the scene. By working together, we can give patients the very best chance of survival and recovery.”
Before pursuing medicine, Dr Kennedy was a paramedic and holds a master’s degree in Immediate Care as well as two post-graduate diplomas in Paediatrics.
Critical charity’s network of volunteers includes doctors in Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Donegal, Dublin and Wicklow; Community First Responder Groups; and off-duty paramedics, EMTs, Advanced Paramedics. It relies on fundraising and public donations to expand and grow its services.
It costs an average of €150,000 to put a new, fully-stocked Critical Care response vehicle on the road. Some of the medical equipment is replaced after each use; an advanced airway pack costs €45, while AED/Monitor pads are €50. Other items, such as ventilator tubing, cost €70 to replace, while filter packs for the ventilator are €255.
You can donate to Critical here.
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