The renewed lockdown in the corona pandemic is also causing problems for the fire brigades in the district: Since stricter contact rules have come into force again, the emergency services have to forego the practical part of their training.
Bad Toelz-Wolfratshausen
- The theoretical part of the training can be conveyed via online training, but practice and exercise units are no longer possible even for the fire brigade due to Corona.
Hermann Spanner, commander of the Bichl fire brigade, can tell you a thing or two about it.
"We have a class of nine women and men who, after two years of preparation for exams, should actually take the practical exam after the summer break." But two days before the time came, the next lockdown came.
That means a further months of waiting for the young fire fighters before they can finally start their service.
“That throws us back,” regrets Spanner.
“Because a lot of what has been practiced in the past two years now has to be refreshed before the next exam opportunity.” But that is not the biggest problem.
With currently 70 active members in the Bichler Wehr, the nine new comrades have noticeably strengthened the team.
Because of lockdown: emergency services are missing training units
In addition, Spanner is currently unable to fill two management positions.
“For these positions, courses at the fire brigade school are compulsory.” And even at normal times there are more applicants than places at the school.
It won't get any better with the current situation.
And so those who are currently in office have to remain in their positions a little longer.
"The pause button was pressed for further development and planning in this area."
District fire chief Erich Zengerle also has to grapple with this problem.
"The face-to-face training has come to a complete standstill." What was previously unthinkable is now part of everyday life: "Every week we do online training with up to 60 participants," explains Zengerle.
In addition, for example, a platform has been created for modular squad-man training.
So you can work through many theoretical topics of this basic fire brigade training.
"As soon as it is possible again, we will catch up on the practical part with the appropriate hygiene concepts in small groups," he says.
That's how it was handled after the first lockdown.
The absence of practical training for the fire brigades in the district still does not mean a major problem; one year under these conditions could be bridged.
"It becomes difficult if the lockdown goes longer than expected."
Corona: The fire departments are on fire
At the fire brigade school in Geretsried, headmaster René Mühlberger is struggling with similar problems.
“We have completely stopped the presence operation.
Under normal circumstances, we would have started with the 2021 annual offer from January 11th. ”The whole of 2020 was an exceptional year for the school, said Mühlberger.
Actually there were 114 beds for course participants in the house, but of course this contingent was not allowed to be exhausted under the given circumstances, because a corona infection at the fire school would have been fatal.
Only after the summer break was it possible to slowly increase to up to 100 trainees again.
You can read everything about the current situation of the coronavirus in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district here.
Since there is now a standstill again, the fire brigade school has of course switched to online courses.
“We have already set up commandant training online.
On four days of the course, the participants are prepared for their later tasks. ”Ultimately, the teaching via the learning platform is more time-consuming.
Above all, the training methods would have to be adapted.
Everything has to be technically well prepared and the participants have to do a lot of their own work.
One thing is certain for the school director despite all efforts: "You cannot just make up for what has been lost in training due to Corona." But it is not just the lack of practical training that causes problems for the fire services.
The necessary exercise units to make all hand movements pass in flesh and blood are currently canceled.
Any mistake can be life-threatening for respiratory protection wearers - Nevertheless: No exercises possible
Not an easy situation for Bichler Kommandanten Spanner, if you look at the area of breathing apparatus.
"This is a critical role in which mistakes can be life-threatening." It is not for nothing that there are high suitability requirements and annual tests.
"Stress-resistant action skills can only be achieved through exercises," says Spanner.
Fortunately, he has experienced breathing apparatus on his team who are very routine.
But in the spring, a regular exercise routine must be possible again for all areas of application.
For now, he could say that all the bets went well, only the B-grade was compromised.
Erich Zengerle also hopes that his fire services will soon be able to resume training.
“You still live from automated basic operations, but if that goes on for a long time, something has to happen,” said the district fire chief.
The wintertime is not that intense anyway, but you have to keep an eye on the situation for spring.
(Arndt Pröhl)
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