VOLUNTEER WORK IN CIVIL PROTECTION AND DISASTER ASSISTANCE Volunteer Work
Private aid organisations (ASB, DLRG, JUH, MHD) and public institutions (ARKAT, fire brigades and THW) provide rapid assistance and work closely together when something happens. This interlocking cooperation guarantees optimal protection of the population in Germany. The voluntary work of citizens with a wide range of skills and knowledge in the organisations is a key component of the German security architecture. Without active civic engagement, civil protection in Germany would be unthinkable.
At helfenkannjeder.de, interested citizens can find out more about what kind of volunteer work suits them.
NUMBERS AND FACTS REGARDING VOLUNTEER WORK
Number of employees at the BBK
Volunteers in civil protection and disaster assistance
of all mission are carried out by volunteers
It is possible to work full-time in civil protection and disaster assistance as part of the Federal Volunteer Service for
THE BBK’S ROLE
The BBK was established in May 2004 as a higher federal authority in the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs (BMI) with its headquarters in Bonn. The tasks of the BBK lie in civil protection and disaster assistance and are anchored in the Federal Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Act (ZSKG) and the Act on the Establishment of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (BBK-Act). Section 20 of the ZSKG contains the legal mandate to support voluntary work. This is carried out by Division II.1 in the BBK.
DIVERSITY IN VOLUNTEER WORK
Logistics
Everything is in flux – including goods and material for exercises, operations and daily service. Logistics professionals and natural talents in organising and transporting fear neither long distances nor complex processes – and ensure that food, spare parts or electricity reach their destination safely.
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Medical Service/Support
Medical competence paired with diplomatic skills – that’s what makes the ideal helper. Whether at sporting events, concerts, street festivals or in the event of a disaster: caring for and treating injured or uninjured victims is crucial in confusing situations.
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Realistic Emergency Presentation/Mask
Practice makes perfect – When an emergency occurs, things usually have to happen very quickly. Realistic exercise scenarios help the emergency services to prepare better in advance. The work of the casualty actors and make-up artists, who give their all to keep the exercise authentic, is not to be missed.
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Pastoral Care
First aid for the soul – emergency chaplains are there for injured people, relatives and rescue workers alike. Whether it’s an accident or a house fire: the volunteers in emergency pastoral care give other people support in difficult life situations.
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Rescue
From cool heads to cold snouts – people, animals and technology work together to rescue injured people and animals from danger zones. Level-headed helpers rescue from emergency situations in the field, under rubble or on water.
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Water Rescue
True water enthusiasts with good physical condition and technical know-how – these people are in demand during floods and inundations. They evacuate and rescue people and animals from flooded areas. Diving, rescue swimming or boating are the crucial three pillars of water rescue.
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Civil Protection
112 – every child in Germany knows this number. What not everyone knows is that around 95 percent of firefighters in this country are volunteers. But putting out fires is by no means the only task of the volunteers. They also reliably respond to storms, floods and traffic accidents.
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Radio Transmission
Language is the key to the world – The be-all and end-all of rescue operations is proper communication. Radio operators are responsible for passing on relevant information to the right place at the right time. When everyone is networked, assistance can be provided most quickly.
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Supply
Every second counts – this is especially true in medical emergencies. Well-trained paramedics on constant alert are therefore indispensable in civil protection and disaster management. You can specialise in different areas: Paramedics, care, but also technology and security.
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