Positive effect of the firecrackers sales ban expected
Created: 12/28/2021 Updated: 12/28/2021, 1:12 PM
Advertisement in an advertising brochure: “Due to legal requirements, the sale of pyrotechnics is prohibited.
We ask for your understanding. ”© Hauke-Christian Dittrich / dpa
Rescue workers, firefighters and police officers usually have major fighting days and nights around New Year's Eve.
The fire brigades hope that things will now be different.
Berlin / Stuttgart - According to the German Fire Brigade Association, the nationwide ban on the sale of firecrackers on New Year's Eve will lead to significantly fewer emergencies around the turn of the year.
Association President Karl-Heinz Banse told the newspapers of the Funke media group that the ban was "very helpful for the work of the fire brigade", as it would lead to a considerable reduction in the number of operations.
This was already shown by the corresponding regulation in the previous year.
"The number of accidents and injuries caused by firecrackers is likely to be significantly lower this time as well than in regular years." This would reduce the need for hospital treatment and the clinics, which are heavily occupied with Covid-19 patients, would be relieved.
Selling firecrackers is prohibited
New Year's and New Year's gatherings are prohibited this year.
As already decided, there should be no New Year's Eve fireworks in public places designated by the municipalities, the sale of firecrackers is prohibited.
In his own words, Banse does not reckon with a risk to the operational capability of the fire brigade in the event of a rapid spread of the Omikron variant of the coronavirus: "Conceivable staff shortages due to a rapid increase in Omikron infections can be compensated for at the fire brigades, as there are generally pre-planned staff reserves the volunteer fire brigades. "
In Germany there are currently almost 35,000 professional fire fighters and more than a million volunteer fire fighters.
These could help out in emergency situations.
Attacks on police and rescue workers
In view of the numerous attacks on police officers and rescue workers, Baden-Württemberg's Minister of the Interior, Thomas Strobl (CDU), complains of a lack of respect among “some of the herringbones”.
Police and rescue workers are generally highly regarded, but: "I cannot and will not accept that precisely those who are often literally sticking their heads out for our security and our freedom are attacked at demonstrations and gatherings."
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In many places in Germany there were recently attacks on emergency services during protests against corona measures.
In recent years, the police, fire brigade and rescue services had complained about such attacks on New Year's Eve and New Year's.
In 2020, according to statistics, 5151 attacks on police officers were registered in Baden-Württemberg alone.
That was about 760 more than five years ago.
dpa