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High season for the water rescuers has started – Müllheim

DLRG Müllheim-Neuenburg is always ready for action / 15 alarms last year, for three people any help came too late.

People are not only drawn to the open-air swimming pools, but also to the Rhine and quarry ponds – whether they are allowed or not. If something happens, then the helpers of the German Life Saving Society are in demand. The members of the DLRG local group in Müllheim-Neuenburg are also available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They were recently on duty at the Opfinger Baggersee. The volunteers bring a lot of commitment, in terms of time, physical, but also financial nature. Your top leadership would like more support from politicians.

The DLRG is named as a service provider in the Rescue Service Act. The water rescue service is organized in the districts of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Emmendingen and Freiburg by the DLRG district of Breisgau. The local group in Müllheim-Neuenburg is involved and provides current rescuers and rescue divers, among other things. In 2021, the rescuers were alerted a total of 15 times, for three people any help came too late, says Alexander Schropp, deputy chairman of the local group in Müllheim-Neuenburg. This finances the approximately 3,000 euros that accrue annually in operating costs through membership fees and donations. It only generates income when a patient can be handed over to the emergency services. “Then there are 285 euros, which are distributed to all local groups involved in the operation, which was only the case once last year,” reports Schropp.

The emergency services mostly pay for their personal protective equipment themselves. For water rescuers (including protective clothing, weather protection, safety shoes and gloves), it costs up to 400 euros. In the case of current rescuers that are used in flowing waters, there is an additional cost of up to 900 euros for things such as wetsuits and helmets. The rescue divers also bring their equipment worth several thousand euros with them, which, unlike scuba divers, is subject to the strict requirements of statutory accident insurance.

In addition to money, the water rescuers have to invest time. They complete over 90 hours before the exam, which includes the silver lifeguard badge, 48 hours of medical training and teaching modules on topics such as operational theory, weather hazards, hydrology, rescue equipment, knots or radiotelephony. Two to three weekends are added for the subsequent training to become a current rescuer. Two years are estimated for operational divers. Once the training has been completed, the swimming training continues, and countless exercises and further training courses for operational readiness follow.

“Our emergency services are very committed to the cause,” says Schropp and adds: “Unfortunately, this is overlooked far too often. A lot – and more and more – is required of volunteers.” The water rescue is not cost-covering and only possible through contributions, donations and the commitment of the helpers. He complains about the lack of appreciation by politicians, who praise volunteering again and again, but don’t provide enough financial resources.

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