Austria: Austrian Red Cross Disaster Relief

The Austrian Red Cross' independent disaster relief service provides assistance upon demand in national and international emergencies.

All disaster relief service employees have been specially trained to rescue, provide first aid treatment to, and transport wounded persons.

These employees are well acquainted with the use of their special equipment. Red Cross disaster relief supplies in each of the nine provinces include tents, blankets, field beds, and medical supplies. Red Cross staff receive special training in conditioning drinking water. This service is particularily important in the Emergency Response Units. Austrian Red Cross water engineers have already saved thousands of lives in various regions of war and other disasters, for example, in Iraq, Zaire, and Tanzania.

Many people are rescued by Red Cross search dogs. Whether in Austria or abroad, whether buried under an avalanche or under masses of earth or debris, victims often owe their lives to a dog's excellent sense of smell. Rescue dogs often prove to be quicker and more reliable than any highly sophisticated piece of equipment.

Date of participation in the modules field exercises:

13 - 15 April 2012, Fos-sur-Mer, France (WP)

16 - 18 March 2012, Weeze, Germany (AMP)

Number of modules members that will participate in the exercises:

WP: 12 persons

AMP:

Equipment:

There will be 5 vehicles that participate in the WP exercise:

2 trucks

3 cars (off road)

Contact person for planning the exercise:

Mag. Gerry Foitik

E-Mail:                          Gerry.foitik@redcross.at

Phone:                         +43 1 589 00 132