Kildare Civil Defence wins global award for Ireland 

Two members of Kildare Civil Defence representing Ireland were ranked the fourth-best trauma team in the world and won a bronze medal, coming third in the trauma complex challenge, at the recent World Rescue Challenge, Azores, Portugal.

“Kildare County Council is delighted to announce that Shannon Reid, Assistant Civil Defence Officer, and Aaron Cullen, a volunteer with Kildare Civil Defence achieved this,” said a council spokesperson.

Competing against 31 other trauma teams worldwide, the team is representing Kildare Civil Defence and Ireland for the second time at the World Championships, and this is their second time receiving a third-place prize.

The team were assessed on their pre-hospital emergency care and lifesaving capabilities, for two 15-minute trauma-based scenarios.

These evaluated scene safety, initial patient contact, assessment of injuries and condition, treatment of casualty and patient handover, and the results highlight the high standard of training and professionalism of Civil Defence Volunteers throughout Ireland.

The objective of the World Rescue Organisation Trauma Challenge is to assist in the development of trauma-related skills of firefighters, first responders and rescue workers, and to enable them to deal successfully with the vast range of casualty-centred incidents. The mission is to provide a platform for rescue personnel from around the world to come together, to enhance and develop competence levels in first responder trauma care.

Having secured first place in the Rescue Organisation of Ireland National Trauma competition for two consecutive years, Kildare achieved national titles as the best trauma medics, earning them the opportunity to represent Ireland in the World Rescue Challenge. They hold the highest ranking as an Irish trauma team on the global stage.