Volunteer Day 2024: Firefighters – Heroes of Civil Protection!

Volunteer Day 2024: Firefighters – Heroes of Civil Protection!

Volunteer Day will be celebrated on December 5, 2024, a day that honors the tireless work of over 1.4 million volunteer firefighters in Germany. These men and women provide essential assistance during fires, traffic accidents and many other critical situations. Karl-Heinz Banse, President of the German Fire Brigade Association (DFV), highlights the extraordinary commitment: "Voluntary commitment forms the backbone of civil protection in Germany! Every single member of the volunteer fire department is irreplaceable." The DFV has also recognized the importance of honoring this commitment and is pursuing initiatives such as a firefighter pension that could allow members to retire earlier while continuing to use their valuable knowledge, such as fireworld.at is reported.

Tireless commitment and mental stress

With almost 3.9 million calls per year, the fire department is an indispensable institution that often has to deal with life-threatening situations. Firefighters not only put lives at risk, they also have to deal with the emotional consequences of their operations feuerwehrverband.de reported. The DFV's “Help for Helpers” foundation takes care of the psychosocial support of these rescuers and offers education and prevention against the psychological consequences of their missions. The need for emotional support is becoming increasingly apparent as firefighters are often faced with stressful situations that can have profound emotional effects, including anxiety and exhaustion. It is therefore essential that they not only receive help during missions, but also after them.