Fórsa’s Kildare Health branch successfully ran a local competition earlier this week, with the winner receiving lifesaving automated external defibrillator (AED) equipment up to the value of €1,000 for a first responder group or community organisation in the area.

Run in conjunction with Community First Responders Ireland the competition was facilitated by local Kildare radio station Kfm. Listeners were encouraged to answer a simple question about Fórsa, while nominating an organisation to win this life saving equipment.

Speaking on behalf of the branch, activist Keivan Jackson said that they were supporting first responders in Kildare as part of their branch community engagement work.

“Industrial relations will always be our bread-and-butter work, but we’re always looking for opportunities to improve our community engagement,” he said.

Keivan told listeners that members on the ground highlighted the lack of AED equipment locally as an issue, and the branch decided to get involved.

“One of our members is a first responder. First responders are volunteers who respond to cardiac emergencies in local areas. They rely on equipment to save lives. Many groups need new equipment and have to fundraise locally for it. This equipment could include defibrillator, storage box, pads, batteries,” he said.

Keivan said this initiative invites members of the public to familiarise themselves with AED equipment in their local communities, checking that it works, while also raising the profile of Fórsa and the work the local branch is doing in Kildare. He will be back in studio with the competition winner later this morning.

You can listen back to the Kfm segment here from 18:00.