Hi everyone,

My name is Darragh, from 125 Foxwood. I’ve lived in Foxwood all my life, so many of you may already know me.

I’m a volunteer with Swords Community First Responders, a group dispatched by the National Ambulance Service to serious, life‑threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, choking, stroke, and heart attacks. When someone in our area calls 112 or 999, we are often dispatched at the same time as an ambulance, allowing us to provide critical early care in those vital first minutes before advanced help arrives.

I’m reaching out to ask for your support in fundraising for a publicly accessible AED (defibrillator) and a secure outdoor cabinet for our estate. This AED would be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ensuring it can be accessed immediately when every second counts.

Why AEDs and CPR Are So Important

In the event of a sudden cardiac arrest, a person’s heart stops beating effectively. Without immediate action, brain damage or death can occur within minutes. For every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, a person’s chance of survival drops dramatically.

An AED, combined with early CPR, can quite literally save a life before emergency services even arrive. AEDs are incredibly safe and user‑friendly — they talk you through exactly what to do, step by step, and will only deliver a shock if it is needed. No medical training is required to use one.

As one resident put it:

“It’s something none of us ever expect to need — until the moment someone suddenly does. Knowing there’s a defibrillator close by would give real peace of mind to everyone living here.”

Having an AED within our estate could make the difference for:

•A family member

•A neighbour

•A friend

•Or even yourself

CPR & AED Training for Residents

Alongside installing the AED, I also plan to arrange a visit from Swords Community First Responders to provide a CPR and AED demonstration for residents. This will help people feel confident, calm, and prepared to act in an emergency.

Often, the biggest barrier to saving a life isn’t willingness — it’s uncertainty. Training helps remove that fear.

Funding Requirement

To make this possible, we need to raise approximately €4,000, which will cover:

•The AED unit

•A secure outdoor cabinet

•Installation

•Replacement pads if the AED is used

•Future battery replacement

AED batteries typically last 3–5 years, so this funding would ensure the device is fully maintained and ready for use for approximately 8–10 years.

If 100 households were able to contribute €40, the project would be fully funded.

Of course, any contribution — no matter the size — is hugely appreciated and will help make Foxwood a safer place for everyone.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this and for supporting such an important, potentially life‑saving initiative for our community.

If you’d like more information or have any questions, please feel free to contact me on 085 [phone redacted].

Kind regards,

Darragh