Volunteering in the DRK: Krefeld honors his lifesaver and committed helpers!

Volunteering in the DRK: Krefeld honors his lifesaver and committed helpers!

On January 29, 2025, the New Year's reception of the DRK district association Krefeld took place in the new logistics center for disaster protection in the Hüls industrial area. This event not only marked the beginning of the year, but also the appreciation of long -standing members who were involved in the German Red Cross (DRK). The district chairman Diether Thelen honored the 92-year-old Helmut Weyers, who has been active in the DRK since 1950. He received a certificate and the honorary badge for his remarkable cooperation and various training as a first aid and paramedic.

Weyers was active in different areas of service, even after retiring as managing director in the Uerdingen local association. In addition to Weyers, a total of almost 50 members were honored for their voluntary work, including young people in the youth water guard and full-time strength in the rescue system. These honors illustrate the wide range of Engagement in the DRK Krefeld and the crucial role that volunteers play in the organization.

challenges in disaster protection

Thelen also spoke about the future challenges with which the DRK is faced with. In particular, refugee work and the requirements in disaster protection have grown greatly due to the geopolitical wars in Europe and the progressive climate changes. District managing director Nils Klessa pointed out how important volunteers are in disaster protection. He emphasized the need to offer basic training in Krefeld to ensure operational readiness.

The new logistics center in Hüls is designed to be used multifunctionally. It offers opportunities to carry out exercises for the rescue dog squadron and to dry tents after operations, which optimizes preparation for future emergencies.

diversity of the deployment formations

The commitment to disaster protection includes a variety of active operational formations and specialized specialist services. This includes, among other things, units, water rescue features and quick operations (SEG), which are responsible for different areas of responsibility such as medical service, support service, technology, security and logistics as well as water reservations. These emergency services are equipped with specialized equipment and go through demanding training programs to achieve a high level of qualification.

As can be seen from the experiences of other DRK district associations, the coordinated cooperation of specialist services enables efficient assistance, which is of indispensable value for the population. The DRK district association Krefeld continues to seek active members in volunteering and support members to support the work of the organization and maintain the operational readiness. This is particularly important in order to be able to meet the challenges that climate change and social upheavals bring.