From Crisis to Community Action
When a routine evening in Cork turned into a life-or-death moment, a local paramedic found a way to turn personal experience into a lasting public service. Helena, a trained paramedic who studied at University College Cork (UCC) and served on the frontline during the pandemic, faced a moment that would redefine her career and her community’s readiness to respond to emergencies.
The Life-Saving Moment
Her partner, Mark, was experiencing a heart attack at home. In moments like these, every second counts, and Helena’s training was put to the ultimate test. Mark was clinically dead for 15 minutes before emergency teams arrived, a harrowing period that underscored the fragile line between life and tragedy. Helena’s swift actions—compressions, timely CPR, and coordination with medical responders—helped restore circulation and stabilize him until further care could be provided.
Turning Personal Experience into Professional Purpose
That night did more than save a life; it reshaped Helena’s mission. Recognizing the gaps in public readiness that such emergencies reveal, she decided to channel her expertise into community education. Drawing on her UCC training and frontline experience, Helena began arranging a series of life-saving training classes designed for laypeople, families, workplaces, and community groups across Cork. The aim is simple but vital: equip more people with the skills to act swiftly and effectively when a heart attack or similar emergency occurs.
What the Training Teaches
The courses focus on practical, evidence-based techniques that can be performed by non-professionals in the crucial minutes before EMS arrival. Key components include recognizing early warning signs of cardiac arrest, safe and effective chest compressions, rescue breaths when appropriate, and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Participants practice hands-on CPR on realistic training manikins and learn how to coordinate with emergency services, ensuring a calm, coordinated response in high-pressure moments.
Why This Initiative Matters in Cork
Cork has a strong culture of community resilience, but real-world statistics remind us that every second without intervention reduces survival chances in cardiac arrests. By launching these life-saving training classes, Helena hopes to empower more residents to act confidently in emergencies, potentially saving lives across neighborhoods, schools, and local businesses. The program also serves as a reminder of the essential role paramedics play beyond the ambulance—teaching, mentoring, and uplifting community preparedness.
Public Access, Private Courage
Helena’s story is a testament to how personal courage often translates into public benefit. Her experience with Mark, and the almost unreal timing of his return to life, has become a catalyst for ongoing education that benefits countless others. By sharing her knowledge and making training accessible, she is sending a clear message: anyone can learn to act decisively in a medical emergency.
Getting Involved
The training classes are open to families, schools, workplaces, and community groups across Cork. For those interested in participating or hosting a session, information is available through local health networks and community centers. As more residents gain lifesaving skills, Cork’s emergency response ecosystem becomes stronger, faster, and better prepared to save lives when it matters most.
A Forward Look
As Helena continues to balance frontline duties with community teaching, her work serves as a blueprint for similar initiatives elsewhere. Her journey demonstrates that lifesaving education is not just for medical professionals—it is for every person who wants to help a neighbor, friend, or loved one in a moment of crisis.
