The North Cork based Irish Community Air Ambulance experienced its busiest year since its launch after it was tasked to over 500 missions in 14 counties last year.
The organisation, which is Ireland’s only charity-funded Air Ambulance, works in partnership with the National Ambulance Service and responds to serious incidents and medical emergencies from its base in Rathcoole.
Each helicopter mission costs an average of €3,500, all of which has to be raised or donated.
Speaking to RedFM News CEO of the Irish Community Air Ambulance, Micheál Sheridan says the increased number of taskings during 2021 show they provide a vital service.
"We had 512 taskings this year, which is an increase from 490 on 2020.
"The other thing that is interesting is that we're starting to see small changes in the types of incidents we're being tasked to, so we've seen an increasing in taskings to cardiac arrests and farming accidents, and a small decrease in our taskings to road traffic collisions - hopefully that's a reflection of improved road safety."
