Inhalt

You're needed! Look, pitch in, save lives

Category: Special Prize for Social Commitment

Fire department: Volunteer Fire Department Thalfingen, Bavaria (Germany)

Anyone, regardless of gender, can help when others are in trouble. This is a special concern of the Volunteer Fire Department in its anniversary year. With the campaign "Be part of the next 140 years", the FD wants to take use all of 2016 to inspire young people for firefighting work. The recruitment and training programme began in the night from 19 to 20 February 2016 with the distribution of extinguishing water bottles to approximately 2,000 Thalfingen households. The FD simultaneously posted a self-made image film on their website and Facebook page. It is aimed at giving interested youths valuable insights into firefighting work.

On 2 March 2016, members of the Volunteer Fire Department Thalfingen demonstrated their voluntary commitment by visiting the 3rd and 4th classes of the town's primary school and the 5th to 8th classes of the middle school to personally invite the pupils to their upcoming "Fire Department Open House" on 12 March. Demand on the day of the Open House was enormous. Numerous children and young people attended with their parents to find out what it's like when the alarm sounds, when every second counts and when the teams leave the firehouse with heavy equipment. Everyone was invited to try things on their own and get a feel for being part of the Fire Department. At the large-scale foam exercise on 17 June 2016 in the town centre, the FD teams already had six new active members in their ranks or in the Junior Fire Department. Together with the new colleagues, they presented and impressive demonstration showing what's important when people are in trouble.

For the remainder of 2016, additional recruitment events honouring the FD's 140th anniversary are planned. Among other things, all citizens of the Elchingen municipality can attend an Open House as well as the "First Aid is for Everyone" campaign day! Join in, learn and enjoy!