PICTURES: Kildare hotel hosts event night for first responders mental health

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Balyna & Edenderry Community first responders were delighted to host the HUGS@home information night on Tuesday the 1st of April in the Hamlet Court Hotel in Kildare.

It was an extremely informative evening, giving attendees great insight into how to recognise and manage post traumatic stress in first responders and photography Tony Keane was there to capture the special night.

There was 65 community first responders in attendance, form Kildare, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Laois & Kilkenny for the roll-out of the new programme.

The night started off with a speech from Adrian Schneider (Advanced Parmedic with the National Ambulance service).

Then Michelle O’Toole (project manager for HUGS@Home programme) and Brian Doyle (research assistant in RCSI SIM) spoke at the event.

Both Michelle and Brian spoke about how hard it can be for community first responders to go home after a difficult callout and also the impact it has on our family members at home!

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