MIT DIR FÜR UNS ALLE Magazin

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Irene Hillger. Since 2001, she has been involved with the Youth Red Cross, served as a youth group leader for twelve years, and has worked with hundreds of children. Additionally, in collaboration with the Red Cross in Heidelberg, she initiated the “School Starter Weeks,” a program where preschool children can explore various emergency services professions over three weeks. This project was recognized in 2023 with the “Helping Hand” award from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI) in the “Youth Engagement” category. In our conversation, she shares her experiences of volunteering with children.Whether as a group leader or organizing fun, play, and sports events, Irene Hillger, a trained pediatric nurse, is passionate about introducing children and adolescents to first aid. Every Child Has Experienced an Emergency “You can start teaching children to help as early as kindergarten,” Hillger explains. To show children how they can assist in emergencies, she visits kindergartens and schools with the Red Cross, talking with the children. In small workshops, they teach the kids what to do when another child is not feeling well—for instance, not to walk by but to stop and ask what happened. “When you ask, every child has experienced an emergency and has been able to help a little,” Hillger says. Helping, for a kindergarten child, could mean fetching a teacher or comforting a distressed peer with a hug. First Responders of Tomorrow Starting at age six, children in the Heidelberg area have the opportunity to meet weekly in a group to learn more about first aid. They learn about different medical conditions—like heatstroke in summer or hypothermia in winter. They discuss what could happen and how to react in each situation. For example, they might role-play a sports injury as a group. Even in elementary school, children can become “school paramedics” if they wish. With a First Aid Kit and Reflective Vest in the Schoolyard These children are invaluable during the school day. They keep an eye out during recess, equipped with their first aid kits and perhaps a reflective vest, ready to help if another child gets hurt, Hillger explains. As they grow older, their ability to assist in school increases. In secondary schools, “school paramedics” are not only available during breaks but also assist their classmates beyond that, supporting the school’s first aid staff. They are knowledgeable about various issues: from stomachaches to dizziness, nausea, and sports injuries. Some of the children who participated in Irene Hillger’s first aid group still greet her years later. “It always makes me happy—they seem to have good memories of the project,” she says, smiling. Three Weeks of Intensive Blue-Light Careers Training Beyond group activities, her volunteer work with children includes organizing an annual camp with over 100 participants. A special project since 2016 has been the “School Starter Weeks”: for three weeks before starting school, future first graders can explore various emergency services professions and learn how they, too, can help others. This not only brings joy to the children but also eases the burden on parents, who often need to figure out how to fill the five-week gap between the end of kindergarten and the start of school. During the School Starter Weeks, the children are under full-day care by the Red Cross, go on excursions to various rescue organizations, and learn about different jobs and activities through play. More Than Just Band-Aids The program usually starts with a get-to-know-you session at the Red Cross facilities, Hillger shares. Since it’s part of the Red Cross tradition, the children first receive a small first aid course. Here, they learn what first aid is, how to apply bandages, and how to handle wounds. Then, the children visit the ambulance station, where they get a close look at the ambulance and other Red Cross vehicles because, as Hillger emphasizes, “the Red Cross is more than just band-aids.” Often, the program includes a visit to the rescue dog unit, where children learn how the dogs are trained and how they search for people. In one exercise, the children hide in a park and are found by the dogs—a favorite activity. Firefighting, Visiting a Holding Cell, and Boat Rides The children also get to explore other emergency service professions. A trip to the fire department has always been a part of the program, Hillger reports. At the fire station, the children see what a firefighter wears and what’s inside a fire truck. They even get to use a small fire hose—a highlight Hillger says is “always a fantastic activity.” When thinking about emergency services, many children immediately think of the police, so a visit to the police station in Heidelberg is also on the agenda. At the station, a police officer demonstrates the various uniforms used for different occasions. If the holding cell is available, the children can take a look inside—along with, of course, the police car. If time allows, a visit to the Technical Relief Agency (THW) or the German Life Saving Association (DLRG) is also included. At the THW, children might try out the grabber tool, while at the DLRG, they can go for a boat ride, examine diving equipment, and learn how to throw a lifebuoy. Breaks Are Important Too Since the children are transitioning from kindergarten to school, they also need breaks. “When you go on an outing every day for three weeks, you notice they get tired,” Hillger says. That’s why sometimes the group just does crafts at the base station, or the supervisors take the children to the playground, the woods, or a water playground if it’s hot. When Small Thoughts Grow Big What remains from volunteering with children? Do today’s children become tomorrow’s helpers? Hillger immediately recalls cases where school paramedics went on to become professional paramedics. And sometimes, former group members become doctors: “It happens again and again that we plant the seed of an idea, and it grows into a career aspiration,” Hillger says. She acknowledges that they don’t always know what becomes of the children later, as not all those who take up volunteer work end up with the Red Cross—some join the THW, the Maltesers, or other organizations. “But we must recognize that even with the small activities we do, we still have an impact on children and young people,” she emphasizes. Sometimes, they nurture future volunteers, and sometimes it’s just “the helping thought that we spread and support.”

Our guest today is Dirk Schwindenhammer. He was present when the volunteer fire department and the mechanical engineering company Durwen from Plaidt received the “Helping Hand” award in 2018 in the “Support of Volunteering” category. The award, presented annually by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI), recognizes various aspects of community safety. We took the opportunity to ask how this came about, what has happened since then, and what other fire departments can learn from this cooperation in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Mr. Schwindenhammer, you are the fire chief of the volunteer fire department in Plaidt. What does that entail? Dirk Schwindenhammer: To understand that, you need to know that we are part of an association of municipalities in Rhineland-Palatinate, consisting of five towns. The association is responsible for the fire department and maintains a firefighting unit in each town. Each of these units has a “chief,” and I serve in that role for the Plaidt fire department. With 6,000 residents, we are the largest community in the Pellenz region. As chief, you’re also responsible for ensuring enough “personnel” is available. This is particularly challenging for daytime readiness. Why is that? Dirk Schwindenhammer: This is an issue that affects all rescue organizations. In the past, people often lived and worked in the same town. Nowadays, they usually work elsewhere, and the fewer companies based in a town, the more severe the situation. As a result of this development, it is always difficult to have enough people available for emergencies during the day. Yet, I have to ensure our readiness 24/7, 365 days a year—we need to provide effective assistance at the scene within about ten minutes. The municipality has a duty to establish a functioning fire department. So, we had to come up with a way to continue meeting this obligation. And that’s where the idea with Durwen comes into play! Dirk Schwindenhammer: Two of our firefighters worked at Durwen. The company is a medium-sized family business that manufactures and globally distributes attachments for forklifts. The company has grown significantly in recent years and now employs 260 people. My colleagues suggested that there might be other firefighters among the employees, even if they came from other towns, and that we should ask if they would be willing to join us during the day. I thought it was a great idea and asked them to see who might be interested. They came back to me and said that ten people were interested! That’s quite a few at once Dirk Schwindenhammer: Yes, the idea sounded great, but it also impacts the company when ten people suddenly leave to respond to an emergency. So, I developed a concept for how this could work and immediately involved the mayor. The concept naturally included the fact that the municipality would reimburse the company for the wages, as required by law. Then, we invited Klaus Durwen, the company’s managing director, to present the idea. Even though he had no prior connection to the fire department, he was immediately enthusiastic and agreed to participate without any hesitation. We didn’t even have to discuss it much—he was on board right away! And how was the plan implemented within the company? Dirk Schwindenhammer: The company’s employees now train once a month during working hours. The municipality has even stationed a transport vehicle at the company, which the Durwen employees use to travel together to the fire station during emergencies. Interestingly, some people who had no prior connection to the fire department also expressed interest. That was a great development. Of course, they first had to undergo training to participate, but these individuals are still actively involved today. The whole initiative has evolved wonderfully and continues to thrive. There’s also the aspect that young people have been drawn to Durwen because of the fire department and have started their apprenticeships there. So, there are benefits for the company from your perspective? Dirk Schwindenhammer: Of course, there is the administrative and coordination effort that the company has to undertake. However, the fact that people are drawn to Durwen because of its connection to the fire department is far from an isolated incident. Additionally, the company benefits from having trained firefighters, who are also certified first responders—a requirement in every workplace. Would you consider your approach a model for other fire departments, perhaps especially in rural areas? Dirk Schwindenhammer: I would say it depends—it can work, but it’s not guaranteed. We were fortunate that everything aligned so well. The mayor was very supportive of the fire department’s needs, and the municipality covers the costs of training and our transport vehicle, which is not a given. So, fire departments need tailored solutions? Dirk Schwindenhammer: I want to emphasize the importance of taking action and coming up with ideas! We’ve done a lot in recent years, not just for daytime readiness. For example, last year, we established a “Bambini” group for children aged 6 to 10. Previously, they could only join the youth fire department at age 10. By that time, most children already have other hobbies and no longer have time for the fire department. We also developed a proper onboarding process, including an information pack. Additionally, we introduced a buddy system so that newcomers, if they wish, can be guided and supported. You have to come up with something to attract new people to the fire department!

CPR, recovery positions, wound care—most people have taken a first aid course at some point. These courses are mandatory for driver’s licenses and workplace first responders. In Germany, however, over 400,000 people have now completed the EHSH course offered by the Federal Academy for Civil Protection and Civil Defense (BABZ) under the BBK (Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance). This course focuses on one key question: How can different groups in society best prepare themselves, even for situations that go beyond everyday emergencies? EHSH stands for “Training the Public in First Aid with Self-Protection Content,” but the knowledge imparted in these courses goes far beyond that of a basic first aid course. While it’s great if as many people as possible know what to do in acute medical emergencies or accidents, participants in EHSH courses also learn how to effectively implement self-protection measures—and how crucial it is to be personally prepared. Why Is Self-Protection Important? Self-protection means learning how to help yourself and others in extraordinary emergencies—until professional help arrives. This can be critical during events like floods, heavy rainfall, or in cases of civil defense. But wouldn’t it be smarter to provide first aid and then wait for the professionals? Frank Meurer, acting head of BABZ, clarifies: “In large-scale emergencies or disasters, as well as in civil defense scenarios, it can take much longer for state-organized help to arrive than in everyday first aid situations. During this time, people affected are on their own. That’s why it’s essential to learn how to protect yourself and help each other! This includes, above all, personal preparedness.” Tailored Programs for Every Target Group The five major German aid organizations—ASB, DLRG, DRK, JUH, and MHD—offer EHSH courses tailored to different target groups. These groups include children, teenagers, young adults, seniors, caregivers, people with migration backgrounds, business owners, and leaders with a multiplier function. Frank Meurer explains: “We aim to address and train all target groups specifically. With a total of seven different modules, we want to first and foremost reach particularly vulnerable groups within the broader population. Each module focuses on a different aspect. Some modules are suitable for multiple target groups, others are tailored specifically to one group, and some modules can even be combined.” Learning What Matters in Emergencies One of the modules is called “Prevention and Response in Emergencies.” In this module, participants learn the measures that are crucial for personal emergency preparedness. This includes, among other things, stocking up on food, water, and essential medications, packing an emergency kit, or preparing for an extended power outage. Other potential issues related to the home, such as heating failures or appropriate structural security measures, are also discussed. Another key question covered in the course: How do I communicate when the power is out? And how do I access information? This course is aimed at teenagers, young adults, (young) families, and seniors. These same target groups can also take the modules “Medical First Aid” and “Caring for Those in Need of Assistance.” The first module teaches participants how to go beyond “normal” first aid measures, for example, by immobilizing bone and joint injuries or improvising carrying techniques. The latter module provides knowledge on how to offer caregiving support in a personal environment, such as in the neighborhood or with family members. Self-Protection in All Areas of Life The modules “Self-Help for Caregivers,” “People with immigrant backgrounds,” and “Promoting Self-Protection in Businesses, Authorities, and Institutions” are a bit more specialized. As the module names suggest, they are explicitly aimed at caregivers, people with migration backgrounds, and decision-makers and opinion leaders in businesses, authorities, or institutions. Why is this subdivision necessary? Frank Meurer explains: “We want to convey exactly the information people need. For example, those who care for someone must act differently—and prepare differently—in crisis situations. The module for people with migration backgrounds also addresses cultural nuances in Germany—such as the importance of first aid or the handling of personal space and proximity.” Leaders in businesses, organizations, or authorities gain awareness of their role as multipliers and decision-makers in their module. They learn that in their position, they can make a significant contribution to civil protection. They are not only responsible for motivating self-protection among their employees and within their institution but also for society at large. In the EHSH module, they can learn how to minimize risk factors for the surrounding population and contribute to the care of the population in extraordinary emergencies. Additionally, a resilient business ensures the continuity of economic output even during crises, which is also of great importance in a security policy context. Safety for Children For children, there is a special module called “Safety and First Aid for Children.” In this module, children between the ages of 3 and 10 learn in a playful way, over two 45-minute sessions, how to handle dangerous situations and what to do in emergencies. They learn the correct behavior during storms, heavy rain, floods, fires, or extended outages of power or communication. Thomas Mitschke emphasizes: “The goal is not to instill fear—quite the opposite. By providing children with practical tips on how to behave in emergencies, we strengthen their self-confidence. In case of an emergency, they will then know how to help themselves and others.” Know More, Help Better: Sign Up for an EHSH Course Now! No matter how different the modules are, they all have one thing in common: they demonstrate how important it is for people of all ages to engage with the topic of self-protection. The more people in Germany who engage with self-protection content, the easier it will be for the population to respond confidently in a potential crisis. Events like the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley show just how crucial it is to be prepared for all eventualities. Those interested can even be trained as EHSH instructors with a volunteer organization. For more information and contact details for the aid organizations, visit: www.bbk.bund.de/ehsh

Today in an Interview: Zaid Alasady from Neuried near Munich. He is 19 years old and has been an active member of the volunteer fire department in his home town for the last five years. Since this year, he has also been involved in the „ABC-Zug München-Land“. We talk to Zaid about how a coincidence turned his life upside down, how his love of chemistry has led to his second volunteer position – and why he also benefits from his knowledge gained from volunteering in everyday life. Hello Zaid! Let’s start from the beginning: what motivated you to become a volunteer? I got into volunteering through the fire department. The volunteer fire department in Neuried had organized a discovery day with lots of activities for young people to get to know each other. We were allowed to put on firefighting gear and were able to try our hand at various stations. Back then, we were thrown straight into the world of firefighting – fire hoses, putting out fires and, of course, exploring fire engines. That was pretty cool. After all, many children dream of joining the fire department one day! How old were you back then? I was 14 years old when I joined the youth fire department. We learned a lot there through games. For example, there were scavenger hunts with radios through our small town. Or we learned how to use the water-carrying fittings on hot days. From the age of 16, as long as you’ve been there for two years, you’re actually allowed to go out on operations. Can you still remember your first operation? I think it was a housewarming party – something very typical. Someone locks themselves out and has left the stove on. Then we arrive and break down the front door to prevent anything worse from happening. I have to admit: That was very exciting! It’s just a completely different world. Suddenly you’re driving a fire engine for the first time! When you arrive at your destination, you are the friend and helper. In addition to your voluntary work with the volunteer fire department, you also have a second voluntary position. What exactly do you do there? Exactly, I joined the „ABC-Zug München-Land“ this year. It was because of my great interest in chemistry – chemistry was the subject I was most interested in at school. I already knew the ABC-Zug from the fire department, as we work together with them in the event of any chemical problems. So I thought to myself: just write to them! After that, I went there in person to take a look at the whole thing. “ABC” sounds so cute at first, but what exactly does it stand for? “ABC” stands for “nuclear”, “biological” and “chemical” hazards. That may sound dangerous, but at the end of the day, luckily we don’t have that many dangers in Germany. What can happen more frequently, however, is an accident involving a transport vehicle with chemicals, for example. Then we have to be on site and neutralize the chemicals if necessary. When else is the „ABC-Zug“ needed? Another thing I didn’t know at the beginning was that the „ABC-Zug“ is automatically involved in every large-scale fire, for example a building fire – because of the fire gases. These consist of so many different chemicals that the „ABC-Zug“ has to be involved. It supports the fire department and tells them whether the building can be reopened to the public. What do you enjoy most about your voluntary work? Firstly, that you really actively help people. You get out of your normal everyday life and slip into the life of a firefighter – and then you’re just there to help other people. On the other hand, the great thing about volunteering is that you can contribute and develop your personal interests and expertise – like I did in the „ABC-Zug“. And what challenges do you see in your voluntary work? You have to be prepared for the fact that not everything goes according as planned. Sometimes things can go so wrong that you see things on site with the fire department that you don’t want to see. Think of a traffic accident, for example. You always have to be mentally prepared for that. What options are there for dealing with such difficult situations? Volunteering is like a second family. We have what is known as psychosocial emergency care (PSNV) on our side. These are psychologists who are firefighters themselves. And as soon as something really dramatic happens, they are automatically called in. So we have our own specialized experts who provide us with psychological support. We are also actively consulted before an operation. If you don’t want to do something, nobody is forced to do so. Can you also benefit from the knowledge you have gained through volunteering in your everyday life? Yes, very much. That was very strongly the case for me because, admittedly, I was a very introverted person before I started volunteering. I rarely helped others and when I got into a tricky situation, I was always overwhelmed. Now that I’ve become something of an expert, I see the world through different eyes and know how to help people. I have the knowledge to make sensible decisions in difficult situations. Volunteering really makes a huge difference to your personality in a positive way. Is there a specific situation that you can think of? I remember a situation from last summer: an elderly person can’t cope with the heat and trips and falls – straight onto the asphalt with their head. People’s first reaction is just to look and do nothing. With the knowledge I’ve gained from my voluntary work, I immediately run a different program. I don’t look at what’s happening, but analyze the situation directly. Then actively approach the person and apply the processes I learned. Is the person still responsive? Is he or she bleeding? Is a conversation possible? All of this happens so quickly that you almost don’t notice it. As soon as you start to help the person yourself, other people join in. The biggest problem is always the first step. But thanks to volunteering, you’re constantly in the role of helping anyway. That really makes a huge difference in everyday life. What advice would you give to someone who might be hesitant about volunteering?  Just have a look – all civil protection and disaster control organizations offer this! Then you can find out on the spot whether it’s something for you. Another option: go for a drink and a meal with the team and ask questions. You can really feel your way around for as long as you like. Until you really feel that you get on really well with the people and that volunteering is the right thing for you. Do you have specific plans for the future for your voluntary work? Definitely! At some point, I would like to work at management level, for example as a specialist advisor in the NBC platoon or as a group leader in the fire department. I’m currently doing my respiratory protection training with the fire department. The firefighters with this demanding training are the ones who first go into a burning building. With their equipment and training, they are able to rescue people from the fire. Did your 14-year-old self expect that you would experience so much with volunteering? Never in my life, honestly! It was a really big coincidence in my life – and the best one! Because it really turned everything upside down in a positive sense. Looking back, I wouldn’t want to do anything differently. If I were 14 again, I would make the same decision again!

Ralf Kosse – THW The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (BBK) organized a photo competition under the motto “Your photo for all of us”. Anyone was allowed to submit a photo – on the condition that it was related to voluntary work in civil protection and disaster relief. Of the 134 photos submitted, the 20 best pictures were put to a community vote online. One of the photographers who made it through with their pictures is Ralf Kosse. He is a volunteer at the THW and his picture received over 4,000 votes. We met Ralf Kosse for a chat – to congratulate him on his success and to get some first-hand background information. We meet Ralf online. He is currently on vacation and welcomes us for a chat from his rented apartment. He could really use a vacation at the moment, as he is in the middle of renovating his house back home. When asked about the progress of the building work, he replies with a laugh: “One of the advantages of being a THW member: You learn how to use a drill and the like. I’ll probably be chiseling up walls, laying screed and a few other things myself.” From recovery equipment to camera Ralf has been a volunteer with the THW for many years. He joined the THW Gronau youth group in 1991 at the age of 12. He completed his basic training in 1997 and later became a squad leader in the “second rescue group”. A few years later, he was squad leader in the “electrical supply specialist group”, and for a year he also acted as its group leader. Since 2017, he has been the public relations officer for the Gronau local association, which has around 85 members. He often accompanies exercises and operations of “his” THW with a camera. So he is well experienced in handling the camera. WHow did the winning photo come about? “I heard about the BBK photo competition when we received the press release from the BBK in our local association.” Ralf was immediately convinced to try his luck. An idea for the submission was quickly found: THW Gronau had organized a photo shoot a few months ago to celebrate Mother’s Day. At that time, a wide variety of photos were taken for the website and the Facebook page. Two helpers, who are already mothers, were photographed in different scenarios. This also resulted in the winning photo, of which Ralf was absolutely certain: “That’s just the thing for this competition!” An honorary position for the whole family The photo shows: THW member Melissa with her little daughter Rieke, who is trying on a THW T-shirt, helmet and boots – all still a little oversized for the toddler, which makes the scene even cuter. Melissa’s husband Torsten is also active in the THW. “And with Rieke, it’s probably only a matter of time,” says Ralf, “the three of them are the best example of families at THW. That’s not just the case here, but in many local associations.” Families are also not uncommon in many other volunteer organizations. They spend a lot of time there and often make new friends. For some, volunteering even becomes a second home. Not a men’s club with heavy equipment Ralf reports that the local association in Gronau has an above-average proportion of women, at twenty percent. Although this does not yet reflect the ratio in the rest of the population, Ralf is certain that the THW has the best prerequisites to further increase the numbers: “There is still room for improvement! The THW is not just a men’s organization with heavy equipment. For us, being a woman is not an issue at all; the 1950s are long gone. Of course, our female helpers also drive the really big trucks and stand at the winch.” Ralf is convinced that society still has work to do when it comes to gender parity. By submitting the photo, he wanted to set a good example, so to speak. “And I thought: photos with children are always good,” he adds with a grin. A close race The jury really didn’t have an easy time judging the photos. Especially in the top places, the points were extremely close. Ralf can therefore be all the more proud of the success of his photo – although it also had to win the community vote after being shortlisted by the jury. How did Ralf manage to motivate as many people as possible to vote? “I started by contacting my family and colleagues and writing to all the WhatsApp groups.” He intentionally didn’t use the website of his local THW association in Gronau as an advertising platform: “I thought that was unfair. After all, it was about me as a photographer and not about me as a THW member.” Gronau goes viral But there are two Facebook groups for the town of Gronau. He posted the photo there. Before the post, there were two to three hundred votes – not even an hour after the post, there were 1,200. Ralf is still happy about this success today: “People were voting for all they were worth. Everyone in Gronau stuck together and spurred each other on to get even more votes.” Has the success on the Internet already made itself felt in the analog world? “Torsten, Melissa’s husband, told me the other day that he had already been approached about it at work. Gosh, that’s your wife in the photo, isn’t it?” Everyone can help ZAt the end of the interview, we ask Ralf if he has a message for the readers. His prompt reply: “I’ve always found it very helpful to have people with different ways of thinking and backgrounds in the team. There are many more tasks in THW than just operating heavy machinery and cut-off saws. Volunteering can be a home for just about anyone. And anyone can help.”“

Sebastian Ohneseit – ASB Today on the line: Sebastian Ohneseit. He can be seen in the winning photo from Karlsruhe. But the real hero of the photo has four paws and an absolutely reliable nose: Australian Shepherd Paul, a rescue dog. Owner and rescue dog handler Sebastian tells us today what he does for a living, how he came to volunteer, why working in the rescue dog unit is something very special – and of course the story behind the photo. “When an electric car catches fire, I’m thrilled – from a technical point of view!” says Sebastian, 28, a graduate engineer in mechanical engineering and research assistant at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. There he conducts research in the field of applied materials on the safety and thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries and how this can be prevented or controlled. So fires and explosions are a natural part of his day-to-day work. But he didn’t first come into contact with fire as an engineer. He joined the youth fire department at the age of ten. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t do it earlier,” says Sebastian. This voluntary work was his absolute passion right from the start.” Love of dogs awakened in the fire department He also remained loyal to it as an adult. During his studies in Kaiserslautern, he was active in the fire department in the city center and gained operational experience there. The fire department also brought him into contact with his second great passion: working with dogs. His first contact with the rescue dog team was during a search operation as a firefighter: “I was immediately enthusiastic and wanted to join!” Unfortunately, it was difficult to combine a dog with his studies. But as soon as Sebastian started his professional life, he got down to business and signed up to the rescue dog team to take a closer look at the work – but still without a dog. “Normally, you have the dog first and then join the rescue dog team. That’s why I was looked at strangely at first. But I wanted to choose the right dog for the work in the squadron straight away.” The choice fell on an Australian Shepherd: Paul, the hero of the winning photo. The dog can do what no technology can But it was a long journey for Paul to shine, one that the dog and his owner mastered together. There are around a dozen trained rescue dogs throughout Karlsruhe. The demanding training takes two to three years. The reason: “The dog has to work. If we say the section of forest is empty, then no one will search there. We have no room for error. We rely on the dogs’ noses.” A great achievement by the animals and so Paul is quite rightly the focus of the winning photo. Sebastian makes it clear: “Rescue dogs save people’s lives. Our dogs can do something that no technology can. It’s a resource that can’t be replaced.” Hard training leads to the goal When you have so much responsibility, you naturally have to train hard. What exactly does Sebastian and Paul’s training schedule look like? “We train for about three hours on Wednesday evenings. And five to seven hours on Saturdays. Then there’s the private training with the dog at home and the commitments for civil protection. Paramedic services, training courses for rescue dog work and civil protection and, of course, missions.” Sebastian became a paramedic in 2020 and a rescue dog trainer in 2022, the same year he took over as head of the rescue dog team. But how exactly does the work of the rescue dog team work? In which areas are the dogs trained? Sebastian explains: “There are four areas: Water search, mantrailing, area search and debris search. We work in the area search, which mostly takes place in forests and fields.” For example, if a person goes missing, the rescue dog team is alerted by the police and search areas are defined. “And we then plan the most suitable tactics for searching the area. In addition to the topography, the wind direction must also be taken into account, for example, as this is relevant for the dogs to pick up the scent. During its training, the dog has learned to work out the scent particles that it can perceive very well, which every person emits and which are distributed by the wind, and to track them back to the person. How did the submitted photo come about? Sebastian pursues photography as a hobby. During his studies, he took a foreign module on photography in France – and caught fire here too. It’s a good way to combine a hobby and voluntary work: “We regularly take the camera into the field. Simply to be able to show our work. After all, we spend many hours in the forest every week. It’s often easier to explain to friends and family what we’re actually doing with a picture.” As Sebastian can be seen as the dog guide in the winning photo, he didn’t take the picture himself: “We work very closely with the Malteser Hilfsdienst rescue dog team in training and operations, a cooperation that benefits both sides. We support each other in terms of personnel and can act as managers for the other organization during operations. As part of this collaboration, we trained a team from the Malteser Hilfsdienst in area searches. A dog guide, who acted as the missing person in this search, took the picture from this perspective.” He continues: “In this picture, I wanted to show the unusual perspective from the point of view of a rescued person, the moment of redemption when help arrives, in this case the ASB and Malteser emergency services. And apparently the idea was so convincing that we made it into the voting with the picture. Further proof that when aid organizations work together, really good things come out of it.” The hot phase of the voting Sebastian motivated all social media channels to vote. And his commitment paid off. And not just because the photo was one of the winning photos in the end. Sebastian knew how to use the attention generated by the photo competition and the voting for himself and his animal friends. “When we were told we were in the voting, I immediately wrote to ASB Karlsruhe’s public relations department. Then it got exciting: suddenly the managing director and other full-time staff were involved and I was allowed to report on our rescue dog team.” All of a sudden, the concentrated attention was focused on the rescue dog work. In addition to ASB Karlsruhe, the regional association posted a story on Tik Tok, while the national association published a post on its Instagram page. Sebastian looks back on the success of the photo competition with satisfaction: “I think that we were able to reach a lot of people with the competition, get them interested in the topic of civil protection and increase their awareness of a particular aspect of it.” Can anyone join the dog unit? And what if lots of people suddenly want to join the rescue dog team? Is it even something for everyone? Basically yes, says Sebastian. “You have to be physically able to move well in the forest, even cross-country – and not get lost if possible,” he adds with a wink. “The most difficult requirement for us is probably the time required and the work with the dog. The dogs notice immediately if you are nervous or unbalanced – that can make the work much more difficult.” In addition, not everyone is able to devote ten hours a week or more to their voluntary work. But there are other tasks in the rescue dog squadron besides being a dog handler. “You can also join us as a helper without a dog, depending on how much time you have. Or you can support us on the technical side. We can find the right volunteer role for anyone who is interested.” Volunteering for the whole family What many volunteers report also applies to Sebastian: Volunteering is also a family affair. His wife is also active in the relay team. They often spend their free time together volunteering. “If you include Paul, the whole family is involved in the dog unit.” And his relay colleagues have also become friends. Volunteering is simply a completely different world to working in the lab – and that is precisely why it is so fulfilling. Sebastian talks about a night-time search mission in a storm last week. During the intensive search under a sky lit up by lightning, there is no room for everyday worries. Sebastian confirms: “You don’t have time to think about upcoming lectures or test series, you’re fully focused on fulfilling the mission in the best possible way.” In addition to balancing work, volunteering is also valuable for another reason: “Volunteering for the blue light really helps you to develop a different perspective, gain skills for life and specialist knowledge.” And it can also get you on the dog. Sebastian and Paul can be seen with their winning picture in the exhibition “Held:innen von nebenan – Ehrenamtliche im Porträt” in Kiel, Koblenz and Chemnitz.