25 years of readiness for BRK Poing: Actually a reason to celebrate, but this is not possible due to Corona.
Nevertheless, the members are very happy.
Poing - Since it was founded in 1996, the voluntary Poinger Readiness of the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) has maintained a first aid team to support the rescue service.
The aim of these “on-site helpers” (HvO, also known as “first responders”) is to shorten the time it takes for the emergency services to arrive.
Now the Rapid Response Group (SEG) has received a new HvO vehicle.
Financed with funds from the BRK and a grant from the municipality of Poing in the amount of 10,000 euros.
The all-wheel-drive vehicle with extensive equipment cost around 48,000 euros, says Patrick Kessel.
Poing: New vehicle for "first responders"
The 22-year-old was recently elected as the new standby manager of the BRK Poing.
His deputies are Dieter Steinbrunner and Dominik Peters.
The car has been in operation for a year and has already proven itself in over 60 uses, says Kessel.
Due to the corona pandemic, no official handover date has been possible so far, this has now been made up for and the opportunity has been used to present the new standby management.
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View into the cargo area of the new HvO vehicle.
© Municipality of Poing
The Poinger BRK team consists of 34 active members, reports Kessel: "In 2020 we worked 1055 hours, in 2019 it was almost 2000." So far this year it has been a good 160, without the HvO assignments.
Since the BRK readiness Poing was in existence, the group has carried out a total of over 6000 missions in 25 years.
The area of application: the municipality of Poing and, if necessary, the immediate vicinity.
"In total, the BRK Poing has driven around 25,000 kilometers to date," says Patrick Kessel.
Poing: The old vehicle no longer made it through the TÜV
The old HvO car had not made it through the TÜV after 19 years in service, says the on-call manager.
Therefore a new car had to be bought.
Kessel thanks the municipality of Poing for donating 10,000 euros for the purchase.
“This is money that benefits the citizens.
Because we are on the way for them, ”he says.
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HvO vehicle Poing.
© Municipality of Poing
The 22-year-old is an IT system administrator by profession and has been a volunteer at the BRK for six and a half years.
“I came to the BRK through the school medical service,” he says.
Later he completed his training as a paramedic.
The interest in community and in the help of people made him a member of the Poinger Readiness.
BRK Poing lacks income from events
The BRK is also used as an on-call service at local events and festivals, such as the Poinger Volksfest, sporting events or the Burschenverein's wine festival.
All of this failed because of the corona pandemic.
For these missions, the BRK readiness Poing receives expense allowances, which are now missing to cover ongoing costs such as training, medical equipment, server costs, electricity and more, Patrick Kessel lists.
In addition to the HvO car, there are two emergency vehicles for major incidents in the Poingen BRK garage at the sports center.
One belongs to the BRK district association, one to the Poinger team.
