As of: April 7, 2024, 9:49 a.m
By: Peter Herrmann
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BRK head of operations Marc Seltier (r.) and vice-chairman Wolfgang Tutsch (l.) honored long-standing members Laura Irmer and Benno Schreiter. © Peter Herrmann
A total of 6,470 hours were worked on BRK duty last year. In addition, the number of members reached a record level of 114.
Wolfratshausen – “Thank you very much for your incredible commitment,” Seltier praised his colleagues. The main tasks still include medical guard services, disaster control, emergency services and blood donation campaigns. In the Wolfratshausen urban area, the BRK was present in 2023, among other things, at the river festival as well as at the carnival and strong beer festival. The emergency services also responded to a major fire in a car dealership, a mass brawl, traffic accidents and fires. “We were able to help 80 patients and transported 43,” said Seltier.
In this context, emergency and chief physician Josef Orthuber noted that the medical drivers are now losing a lot of time looking for suitable clinics. “They drive all over the Oberland,” stated Orthuber. This is particularly noticeable in stroke patients, who often have to be driven from the northern district to Tölz.
BRK-Wolfratshausen only has six paramedics and five emergency paramedics available
The reform of the Bavarian emergency services law, which will come into force in 2025, could make these burdens even worse. It stipulates that the driver of an ambulance must also complete extensive medical training. This could result in a personnel shortage.
The 520-hour training currently costs around 2,500 euros and the future paramedics usually have to finance it themselves. “I can't find the people I need,” complained Seltier. He currently only has six rescue and five emergency paramedics at his disposal in Wolfratshausen. Some of them work in their regular jobs outside the city and cannot be used for short-term alerts.
“Patients are in the wrong place”
“Patients have the worst deal,” says youth work manager Iris Huber dramatically. She was once afraid of death herself and was happy about the quick arrival of an ambulance. “What will happen if we are no longer allowed to help volunteers and have to wait a long time for an emergency doctor?” Huber asks himself. Third mayor Annette Heinloth was shocked after these reports. “It demotivates the volunteers when they are presented with such legislation,” she regretted. She was particularly impressed by the BRK's good youth work.