28.07.2025 | Bericht, Mission reports
On 28th June 2025, around 650 emergency service members gathered in Kassel for one of the most important training measures of the Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB), “Workers’ Samaritan Federation”, in the field of civil protection: the national exercise.
The event was characterised by realistic scenarios and a review of operational procedures. The aim is to optimise processes, demonstrate operational capability in complex situations and strengthen cooperation between the various teams – from medical and rescue services, the rescue dog and drone squadron to technology and logistics.
The exercise began punctually at 10.00 a.m. with speeches from high-ranking representatives: Hessian Minister of the Interior, for Security and Homeland Protection Dr. Prof. Roman Poseck and Knut Fleckenstein, ASB Federal Chairman, spoke to the helpers and guests from politics, partner organisations and science. The participating units set off from the staging area at the Kassel Exhibition Centre to tackle the three operational scenarios, which were to pose major challenges to the skills of the emergency services.
Scenario 1: Train accident at the main railway station
The first scenario: a dramatic train accident with a mass casualty incident (MANV).
The emergency services had to act quickly and precisely in a confusing situation and not allow themselves to be distracted by observers. 20% of the volunteer emergency actors mimed patients in the red category – seriously injured people who require immediate treatment. The remaining actors were divided into yellow patients (serious injuries, but not immediately life-threatening), green patients (minor injuries) and uninjured parties, for example witnesses to the accident or upset passers-by who were talking distraught to the emergency services.
A treatment centre with various tents was set up for treatment, including a tent of the Federal Medical Task Force (MTF). Here, victims could be sorted according to their degree of injury and treated efficiently. Care facilities and psychological emergency care units were provided for uninjured victims.
In total, a mobile makeshift hospital and two hospitals in Kassel were involved in order to make the handover of patients as realistic as possible and to practise the hospitals’ emergency plans.
A MANV is an emergency with a large number of injured and damaged or affected persons that requires special planning and organisational measures. The special feature: this situation cannot be managed with the usual resources that are normally available for providing care.
The Federal Medical Task Force (MTF) is a tactical unit with special capabilities for deployment in a situation of tension and defence (civil defence). It is part of the federal government’s cross-state disaster relief programme.
Scenario 2: Missing persons in the forest
The second scenario took place in the forest near the Hercules statue in Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe: a hot air balloon had crashed there and the emergency services had to find missing persons. A case for the ASB rescue dog teams! A total of 80 emergency service members were deployed with 22 dogs, which can track down people up to 500 metres away. The training of the dogs takes between 1.5 and 2 years and must be repeated every 24 months to ensure that they are ready for deployment. The teams were supported by a drone squadron that can recognise people with the help of artificial intelligence and therefore provides great added value during search operations.
Scenario 3: Boat capsizes – water rescue on the River Fulda
A life-threatening situation on the water: a boat has capsized on the River Fulda and human lives are in acute danger. As in the previous scenarios, a rapid response from the emergency services was essential. In addition, when rescuing people from flowing waters, there were all kinds of things to consider in terms of personal protection and the correct use of equipment. This showed once again how important coordinated cooperation and good communication are in disaster situations.
However, not only the deployment scenarios themselves were a challenge for the volunteers. The participation of partner organisations from other European countries, such as Slovakia and South Tyrol, also put international cooperation to the test. The organisation of the exercise itself – in particular the incident command and catering for the emergency units – was also a major feat that was mastered with flying colours.
The ASB national exercise proves how important it is to regularly test and improve processes. The exercise is made as authentic as possible through realistic presentations, including the make-up of fake injuries. The event emphasises how committed and professional ASB’s emergency services are. With state-of-the-art technology, well-trained teams and realistic scenarios, they are ideally equipped to help quickly and effectively in real emergencies.
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