Water rescue
The term water rescue encompasses all assistance measures in the event of swimming, boat and ice accidents as well as air accidents in the water.
Water rescue service
Water rescue includes all first aid services that are required in the immediate vicinity of the water. In addition, in the context of water rescue, salvage of material goods is carried out in order to avoid accidents and, in disaster control, tasks to salvage rubbish and secure dykes are taken on.
The water rescue service is taken over by aid organizations such as in Germany by the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe , DLRG , Wasserwacht , the ASB or the DGzRS and in Austria by the ÖWR and the ASBÖ . These organizations often also take on the security service at designated bathing areas or at events on the water.
The water-based rescue service is referred to in Germany as the water rescue service, WRD for short. In the WRD, emergency services and material are organized and coordinated in order to achieve the most successful aid measures possible in water rescue.
The water rescue service (WRD) is carried out independently, on a private or public mandate. The water rescue organizations are responsible for taking on guard duties at waters where no commission from the municipalities or private individuals has been given. In indoor and outdoor swimming pools as well as campsites, supervision is often taken over by the water rescue organizations or by non-organized lifeguards. Usually the organizations or lifeguards work on a private basis.
The public contract is partly fixed by law or given by the municipalities or special purpose associations. This includes the guard service at bathing areas on inland waters and coasts organized in the local water rescue service (WRD) or in the Central Water Rescue Service Coast (ZWRD), which is organized throughout Germany. In many regions there are mobile rapid response groups (SEG water rescue), water rescue trains or special first responders who are alerted in the event of water accidents or disasters . In some federal states, these activities are regulated within the framework of the disaster control laws , the fire protection and assistance laws or the rescue service laws.
The classic water rescue service or central water rescue service is mainly carried out on a voluntary basis by emergency services from Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe , DLRG , water rescue service , ASB and fire brigade . For this purpose, the emergency services are assigned to watchtowers , water rescue stations , motor lifeboats or other emergency vehicles and are sent to action by a main guard or control center.
Another form of organization is the establishment of so-called water rescue groups or rapid action groups water rescue (SEG). These task forces can be deployed independently and are under the direction of a water rescue operations leader . The water rescue groups are stationed in the guards of the operating organization and move out to the scene in the event of an alarm. In disaster control and major disasters, these groups are combined in a water rescue train. This organizational model with a high level of technology and improved staff presence is mainly practiced by public rescue services as part of general hazard prevention.
Locations and tasks
In the water rescue service , lifeguards are used on rivers, inland lakes and the coasts of the North and Baltic Seas . The emergency services watch over the safety of bathers and water sports enthusiasts. The most important tasks include rescuing people and animals from the risk of water and ice, providing medical care and support, and recovering objects if they pose a danger. The water rescue service also secures emergency services and equipment on and near the water and helps avert and combat disasters and major incidents.
Tools
Common aids in the water rescue service are:
- Belt rescuer
- Motor lifeboat (short form: MRB)
- Lifebelt
- Lifebuoy
- Rescue board
- Lifeline
- Life jacket
- Life throw line
- Lifebuoy
- Rescue bar
education
Lifeguards are trained to carry out their tasks and then trained to become water rescuers. Further training and further education on river, current and air treadmills, as well as paramedics , radio operators, boatmen and rescue divers make the often necessary professional and sometimes difficult help possible.
Organizations
- In Germany , the water rescue service is carried out by the four major aid organizations , Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe , the water rescue service in the German Red Cross , the German Life Rescue Society (DLRG) and the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund . The German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People is the only sea rescue organization financed by donations . In addition, the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), the fire brigade and the Voluntary Sea Emergency Service (FSD) organizations are involved in the water rescue.
- In Austria, water rescue is also carried out by several organizations. There are the organizations Austrian Water Rescue (ÖWR), Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Austria (ASBÖ) and the Austrian Youth Red Cross in the Austrian Red Cross . With the increase in outdoor activities such as canyoning or rafting, the ÖWR specializes, among other things, in rescuing from whitewater hazards.
- In Switzerland , water rescue is carried out by the Swiss Lifesaving Society (SLRG). Among other things, it also carries out the sea rescue service on the Swiss side of Lake Constance.
Internationally, water rescue is represented by the ILS (International Live Saving Federation).
literature
- Peter A. Fischer, Thilo Künneth, Alfons Vorderauer: Pocket book for water rescuers. Basics for training and practice . Published by the Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft e. V. - Presidium. ecomed verlagsgesellschaft, Landsberg / Lech 2003, ISBN 3-609-68779-7 .
- Peter A. Fischer, Thilo Künneth, Alfons Vorderauer: Pocket book for water rescuers . Published by the DRK water rescue service. ecomed verlagsgesellschaft, Landsberg / Lech 2003, ISBN 978-3-609-68777-3 .
- Wolfgang Kast: Specialist consultant water rescue . Fachverlag Matthias Grimm, Berlin 2007, ISBN 978-3-940286-05-5 .
- Hubertus Bartmann: water rescue. Water and hydraulic engineering. Tactics, technology, floods . ecomed-Sicherheit, Landsberg / Lech 2006, ISBN 3-609-68771-1 .
- Hubertus Bartmann: Basics of water and ice rescue . ecomed-Sicherheit, Landsberg / Lech 2007, ISBN 978-3-609-62359-7 .
- Hubertus Bartmann: Flood operations: basics, preventive measures, defensive measures . ecomed-Sicherheit, Landsberg / Lech 2007, ISBN 978-3-609-78605-6 , (training slides).
- Hubertus Bartmann, Klaus Graf: Modern water rescue from the air. Handbook for water rescuers, air rescuers, pilots, divers. Gentner-Verlag, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-87247-729-3 .
Web links
Germany
- Water rescue from the Johanniter Accident Aid
- German Life Saving Society
- Water rescue service in the German Red Cross
- ASB water rescue service
- Water rescue at the Voluntary Sea Emergency Service
- Sea / water rescue on hilfseinrichtungen.de
- Voluntary water rescue service
Austria
Switzerland