Portlaoise Community First Responders

29/10/2026

October 29th is World Stroke Day. A day all about raising awareness of stroke symptoms, and recognising the importance of prevention and acting FAST if you or anyone you encounter develops stroke symptoms.

Remember the important acronym for strokes, and if you see anyone with any of these symptoms, be sure to call 112/999 immediately.

Face- drooping on one side of the face

Arms - weakness in one arm, or the inability to raise both arms.

Speech : slurred speech

Time : time to act, call 112/999 immediately if any of these symptoms occur.

Face, Arms, Speech, Time = FAST.

There are also other symptoms that can occur, such as Balance, and Eyes. This could be a loss of balance, or vision loss in the eyes. The acronym BEFAST is also used to recognise these symptoms. If you or anyone you know encounters these, call 112/999 immediately.

17/10/2026

We’re in Laois Shopping Centre for Restart A Heart!come say hello to learn more about the importance of CPR, using an AED! We’ll be here till 2pm today❤️

16/10/2026

Today is World Restart A Heart day, a day all about raising awareness on Heart Health, CPR and AED use. We’ll be at the Laois Shopping Centre tomorrow, Saturday October 17th in order to raise awareness about all these things, if you’re around stop by anytime between 10am-2pm 1! and come say hello!❤️

World Restart a Heart day is October 16th, a day for spreading CPR awareness and knowledge across the globe.

Portlaoise Community First Responders are happy to announce that we will be in the Laois Shopping Centre Saturday October 17th, from 10am-2pm.

Some of our first responders will be there to raise awareness and provide knowledge on CPR and how to use an AED.
Come along and meet us!

📍Laois Shopping Centre
📆 Saturday October 17th
🕜 10am - 2pm

10/10/2026

‼️Important Notice‼️
The public access AED is back operational at the Coote Street phone box.

We are once again urging people to NEVER tamper with a public access AED. These are vital pieces of lifesaving equipment. If you notice anything suspicious at any of the local AEDS, please get in contact with us or with An Garda Siochana.

‼️URGENT NOTICE‼️

The Coote Street AED is temporarily out of use. Please make yourself aware of your nearest operational AED while the Coote Street AED is out of service.

We want to highlight again the importance of NEVER tampering with an AED. These are vital pieces of life saving equipment, that are installed and purchased through fundraising and generous donations from the community. Please respect these life saving pieces of equipment.

If you see any signs of tampering at a Public Access Defibrillator, please contact us on social media, or email us via : [email protected]

Please keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram for updates as to when the Coote Street AED will be back operational.
-Portlaoise Community First Responders

06/10/2026

World Restart a Heart day is October 16th, a day for spreading CPR awareness and knowledge across the globe.

Portlaoise Community First Responders are happy to announce that we will be in the Laois Shopping Centre Saturday October 17th, from 10am-2pm.

Some of our first responders will be there to raise awareness and provide knowledge on CPR and how to use an AED.
Come along and meet us!

📍Laois Shopping Centre
📆 Saturday October 17th
🕜 10am - 2pm

30/09/2026

‼️URGENT NOTICE‼️

The Coote Street AED is temporarily out of use. Please make yourself aware of your nearest operational AED while the Coote Street AED is out of service.

We want to highlight again the importance of NEVER tampering with an AED. These are vital pieces of life saving equipment, that are installed and purchased through fundraising and generous donations from the community. Please respect these life saving pieces of equipment.

If you see any signs of tampering at a Public Access Defibrillator, please contact us on social media, or email us via : [email protected]

Please keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram for updates as to when the Coote Street AED will be back operational.
-Portlaoise Community First Responders

29/09/2026

September 29th is World Heart Day ❤️
It’s important to look after your health and your heart, but to also know what to do in case of heart related emergencies!

👉🏻Dial 112/999 in an emergency

👉🏻Know how to perform CPR

👉🏻Know where your nearest local AED is located

Knowing what to do during a heart attack and cardiac arrest can be vital to help save a life, make sure to make yourself aware of what to do!

and if you’re interested in learning CPR, message us on social media or email us on : [email protected] to enquire about our next free certified CPR and AED courses

❤️Happy World Heart Day❤️

24/09/2026

We look forward to seeing anyone in attendance this evening!❤️
We’ll be in the library from 6:30pm-7:30pm!

Portlaoise Community First Responders are hosting an information evening this Thursday, September 24th from 6:30pm-7:30pm in Portlaoise Library!
Join us this coming Thursday to meet members of the team, as well as access information regarding the following:

👉🏻 Learn how to Register your AED with the National Ambulance Service
👉🏻 Access information on how your housing estate can receive funding for a Public Access AED
👉🏻 Learn more about our free certified CPR and AED use courses, and about our 2027 availability.
👉🏻Information on Sponsoring an AED. Are you a community group, business or individual looking to help the community further? If you’re interested in sponsoring an AED for the Portlaoise community, come along on Thursday to find out more.

We look forward to seeing you there!❤️

21/09/2026

Portlaoise Community First Responders are hosting an information evening this Thursday, September 24th from 6:30pm-7:30pm in Portlaoise Library!
Join us this coming Thursday to meet members of the team, as well as access information regarding the following:

👉🏻 Learn how to Register your AED with the National Ambulance Service
👉🏻 Access information on how your housing estate can receive funding for a Public Access AED
👉🏻 Learn more about our free certified CPR and AED use courses, and about our 2027 availability.
👉🏻Information on Sponsoring an AED. Are you a community group, business or individual looking to help the community further? If you’re interested in sponsoring an AED for the Portlaoise community, come along on Thursday to find out more.

We look forward to seeing you there!❤️

15/09/2026

Just a reminder, we’re urging all Businesses, sports clubs, community groups, hotels and medical facilities to consider registering their AED with the National Ambulance Service. Doing so can help to save a life.

We have also linked out GoFundMe below, as part of our ongoing campaign to raise funds towards more public access AEDs in Portlaoise. Thank you for your support ❤️

https://gofund.me/e3d7dc977

Throughout September, we want to raise awareness of Public Access AEDs alongside our current campaign to install more Public Access AEDs across Portlaoise.

We’re encouraging all local Businesses, Sports clubs, Schools and Community Groups to considering registering their AED with the National Ambulance service.

Here are some important facts to know to highlight the difference registering your AED can make in a cardiac arrest :

👉🏻 The survival rate of a cardiac arrest increases to 50-75% when an AED is used in within 3 minutes.

👉🏻A bystander using an AED increases the survival rate to 38-50% percent in cases of cardiac arrest.

👉🏻For every minute without using an AED, the survival rate drops by 7-10%

Registering your AED allows the National Ambulance Service to direct callers to the nearest AED once an Eircode is provided during a cardiac arrest 112/999 call.
Having more registered AEDs across Portlaoise can help the community in a cardiac arrest to get to the nearest AED to them, and increase the chance of survival. It’s vital to the community of Portlaoise to have as many Public Access AEDs as possible.

You can scan the QR code, or click the link below to register your AED! 👇🏻
Additionally, we can assist in helping you register your AED, if you have any questions or need assistance, please email [email protected]

https://surveys.hse.ie/t/AED_Form/

We can also arrange free checks for your AED to ensure it’s functional, as well as information sessions on how to register your AED You can contact us via our email to arrange one of these sessions!

Alongside this, we are continuing to raise funds to install more Public Access AEDs across Portlaoise.
If you’re interested in supporting us, you can do so via our GoFundMe below👇🏻

https://gofund.me/8ff5cdc46