Donation for current rescuers

Maag Witte GmbH has decided this year to support the DLRG with a donation of 5000,- €. The money will be used to establish a new department in Northern Germany: Rescuer for extreme flow situation. A unit of lifeguards specially trained to rescue people in need of help from strong and heavy currents. These lifeguards not only require a fair amount of courage and willpower, but must also be properly trained and equipped for these extreme situations.

The current rescuers are always used when the normal units and task forces reach their limits. For example, during the flood disaster in the Ahr valley, many people in distress were rescued from the raging floods and from the roofs of houses by flow rescuers. Operations of this kind are extremely risky and demanding and can only be carried out by highly qualified specialists.

However, the donation presented will not only be used for the training of the swimmers. Special equipment is also needed for each swimmer. Wetsuit, white water vest as well as helmet, ropes and carabiners will also be used.

Two training centers will be set up at the Eckernförde and Elmshorn locations. The first of the newly trained units will then be stationed centrally at the Elmshorn site. It will not only be used as a rescue unit, but will also serve as an instructor unit for other current rescuers. The aim is to establish this unit at the location and to train further current rescuers and emergency forces professionally. This also ensures that another highly qualified unit is available in the Pinneberg district for danger prevention and emergencies.

A rescue squad consists of 9 helpers and the same number of substitute helpers. In the future, training will be offered at regular intervals at the Elmshorn location.

The accident in the Ahr valley has shown us that currents and flooding can pose a danger not only on the coasts. The concatenation of different circumstances leads among other things also in locally limited areas inland to the fact that small brooks and rivers can swell to dangerous floods.

For Maag Witte GmbH, as a company with a long tradition in northern Germany, it is important to also support charitable causes. By donating to the DLRG, we would like to make our contribution to providing the courageous lifeguards with qualified training that will benefit not only the people of northern Germany, but also the whole of Germany and beyond. The current rescuers are not only deployed regionally, but always where they are needed.