'If I can manage it at 73-years-old, anybody can!' - Kildare woman saving lives

Meet 73-year-old retired teacher Doreen Ryan from Kildare whose story proves that age is not a boundary, especially when it comes to helping to save lives in her community.

Doreen is originally from Galway and moved to Naas, Co Kildare in 1979. She has lived in the town ever since.

Doreen is very involved in the Naas community and spends her free time sewing costumes or giving painting classes in the Moat theatre in Naas, or volunteering as a Naas Community First Responder.

After 20 years as a teacher, Doreen has found fulfilling ways to fill her free time, keep herself active and involve herself in her community.

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She said that she came across a post on Facebook about volunteering for Naas Community First Responders.

Naas CFR currently has 17 volunteers in the Naas area who respond to emergency calls such as choking, chest pain, stroke and cardiac arrest emergency calls.

The group cover a 5km radius of Naas and surrounding areas including Sallins & Johnstown and often arrive ahead of the ambulance to administer medical assistance and support.

The group also offers community engagement and education on CPR, choking and AED training and awareness sessions.

Doreen said that when she saw the post she said: "God, that might be something I'd be able to do. And I didn't even know that they existed.

"So I made inquiries and I was encouraged to come along to a training session and that's how it started. I must say they were very welcoming, very supportive."

Doreen said that she joined in 2018 and "never looked back."

"I was nervous initially, obviously, because I had no idea of what to expect. I had the basic outline of the kind of calls but obviously, if you're not trained for something, you're not sure what it is.

"So it's a case of being trained and saying, would I be able for this? And then going on calls with other people. You would never, when you're starting off, go on a call on your own. You would always go with at least one other person who was experience."

Doreen said that she found the training provided so good that when she was on calls she always knew exactly what to do.

She has found the last number of years at Naas CFR very rewarding.

"There's great satisfaction in being able to help people and while it might not always be medical help, it could be moral support, but it is very satisfying. 

"The support that you get from the public and their attitude towards us is extremely positive and the attitude of the paramedics when they come on scene is very positive as well. It's nice being able to help people."

Doreen said that the group is always looking for new members and donations. The group is volunteer based and relies on donations from the public alone.

"It's very difficult to fundraise as a volunteer group, it's not easy, but we've been very lucky in that people have been generous. It's a very important service. And it is something that anybody can do.

"I have asthma and COPD, and I have absolutely no difficulty using any of the skills that we have been taught. So anybody can do it.

"And I figure that if 73 going on 74, if I can manage it anybody can manage it."

When asked how long Doreen plans on volunteering for Naas CFR she said, "until they kick me out!"

If you are interested in becoming a Community First Responder, you can find more information here.