How Heroic Volunteers Save Lives and Strengthen the Community

What would you do if you had to act quickly in an emergency? Would you hesitate or help immediately? A lot of people ask themselves this question every day, and the answer can save lives.

Many of our employees are actively involved – be it in the medical treatment unit, emergency medical services or psychosocial emergency care services. On top of their jobs, they invest time and energy in helping others. They all agree on one thing: volunteering is so enriching – in many ways. One to avoid? Absolutely not! Three volunteers have explained to us exactly what they mean by this.

On a mission for the community

“I wanted to do something for the community. Something that would bring me out of my comfort zone”, Barbara explains. No sooner said than done: since 2015, she has been a volunteer with the German Red Cross on top of her job as Risk and Quality Manager. She regularly takes on a role within medical treatment units at events and takes part in emergency medical training courses. From time to time, she also supports the emergency medical services as a volunteer. “What’s particularly great is that I can attend all sorts of events that I like the look of, but wouldn’t normally go to, such as festivals and concerts”, Barbara finds. She is responsible for minor emergencies such as injuries or acute illnesses at those events. She only calls on the emergency medical services for support for more major emergencies. One of her highlights is her role within the medical treatment unit at the Hamburger Dom fair, when she acts as a contact person for acute emergencies amidst Schmalzgebäck (olykoek) and colorful lights. 

Barbara doesn’t just help out in an official capacity, however. “The ‘Saving Life’ First Responder app in Schleswig-Holstein makes a big difference! It mobilizes qualified first responders in the vicinity of an emergency so that that they can initiate life-saving measures quickly”, she reports. “A lot of my colleagues have already been called out via this app and were able to assist with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. I know of some cases where this saved lives – while this is not the norm, it can make all the difference in an emergency.”

Volunteer rescuers strengthen the emergency medical services

Volunteering plays an important role in our society: it strengthens social togetherness and saves lives. Full-time and volunteer staff working closely together and supporting each other is particularly important. An example of this would be the extended emergency medical services, which relieves the regular emergency medical services in certain emergency situations, such as an MCI. “Here in the countryside, however, the extended emergency medical services do not only play an important role in the event of an MCI. If the emergency medical services are busy, we step in”, Nils reports.

On top of his role as Regulatory Affairs Manager at WEINMANN, Nils acts as a leader and manager in civil protection at the German Red Cross. He puts in up to 15 hours per week on top of his full-time job. He particularly loves the wide range of possible call-outs and the close relationships he has with his colleagues, which have resulted in genuine friendships. One highlight is the call-out during the carnival season in Cologne: “When the ‘Kölle Alaaf’ cry goes out again, we make our way to the Rhineland. Carnival season is always a highlight. We spend several days together, which really strengthens the bond we have”, Nils explains. This feeling of togetherness really shines through during extreme call-outs: “On one occasion, we had to resuscitate a young woman at a festival. This was a real emergency situation which showed how well we work together as a team.”

Psychosocial emergency care

These types of call-out happen often and cause enormous mental strain. Major incidents or call-outs involving children in particular can cause emotional strain. In cases like that, Oli, who has been a volunteer with Malteser International for over 45 years on top of his job as Head of Sales Central, provides support. He has also been helping out in psychosocial emergency care for 15 years and is part of the Psychosocial Emergency Care for Emergency Services (PSNV-E) team. “As a paramedic, I know how demanding some call-outs can be and how long they can play on your mind. I think it’s important to talk about experiences like that. That’s why I decided to do my PSNV training”, Oli explains.

His tasks include prevention work at emergency medical service schools as well as individual and group discussions with emergency services personnel. “It is very important to listen to those affected in a safe space and to show them understanding”, he emphasizes. Awareness for psychosocial support has increased in recent years. “The PSNV-E team is contacted more frequently today. The EMS field providers know who to contact and often get in touch themselves”, he reports. But sometimes the team also actively approaches the emergency services, such as recently at the attack in Solingen: “There were many young volunteer paramedics on site, as is standard at a normal city festival. Suddenly, people started screaming and people were lying on the ground bleeding. This situation, which came out of nowhere, plus the danger to themselves, was understandably extremely stressful for the rescuers. That’s why we were immediately on the scene.”

Giving up this voluntary work is out of the question for Oli: “I realize every time what I can achieve with my voluntary work and how I help people. This feeling of really supporting people is priceless.”

Emergency services: more appreciation needed

Changes in politics and society are required so that volunteers can continue to provide their indispensable service in the future. Violence against emergency services and a lack of respect occur repeatedly – reasons why people stop volunteering. “This must not become the norm. The population must be made aware of, and understand, what it means to call an ambulance and what challenges the EMS field providers face. We must finally start to make people aware of the work the EMS field providers do so that they get the appreciation they deserve”, Oli says. 

The pathway to volunteering: your chance to help

Are you thinking about getting involved with volunteering? Don’t hesitate – explore the possibilities and give it a go! Organizations such as the German Red Cross and Malteser International offer a host of programs that make it easier to get started. “There’s no need to worry. You’ll learn everything you need to know for dealing with medical emergencies and will always have support available”, Barbara explains. The time required should not put you off either: “You can invest a lot of time in volunteering, but you don’t have to. Two to three call-outs a month are just as valuable”, Nils adds.