Handover: Two new vehicles for use in disaster control

Two new medical equipment vehicles (photo) have been provided to the city of Chemnitz by the Federal Office of Civil Protection for use in disaster control. The vehicles will be officially handed over to the volunteer DRK disaster control helpers of the Treatment Platoon 1 of the 25th Medical Task Force-Chemnitz of the City of Chemnitz (25th MTF-C) on Saturday, 13 April at 10 a.m. on the Neumarkt at Chemnitz City Hall.
Representatives of the media are cordially invited to a photo opportunity on site.

Chief Fire Director Bernd Marschner, Head of the Chemnitz City Fire Department, will hand over the symbolic vehicle key to the President of the Chemnitz DRK District Association, Dr Matthias Schellner. The new vehicles, with a total value of around €300,000, will improve the technical capabilities of the emergency services, enabling them to provide even more effective assistance in the event of emergencies.
The new vehicles handed over by the federal government for the construction of the 25th MTF in Chemnitz will also be presented at the event at Neumarkt: Two ambulance equipment vans, six type B ambulances, a command vehicle and a crew transport vehicle.

Contact for enquiries about the appointment: Call 0371/488-3760 or call 0151/14 03 58 38 to speak to Lutz Fischer, Fire Officer, Department of Civil Defence, Disaster Protection, Training and Volunteer Fire Brigades at the Chemnitz City Fire Brigade Office.

Information on the MTF and the vehicles: Based on the New Strategy for the Protection of the Population, the federal government has developed a concept for the Medical Task Force (MTF). 61 MTFs have been set up across Germany, including the 25th Medical Task Force - Chemnitz in addition to Dresden and Leipzig since 2011. An MTF is a tactical unit with special capabilities or special reinforcement potential to support regular disaster control and medical service units and is able, for example, to set up and operate a treatment centre for up to 50 people. The principle of the MTF is the situation-adapted combination of different specialised modules to deal with a specific disaster medical situation. The MTF can be deployed as a closed unit or in individual modules as required, even in daily emergency operations.

The new federal medical equipment vehicle (GW San) is the core of the MTF's treatment sub-unit. The crew of six and the equipment of the GW San allow initial treatment of seriously injured persons with the possibility of further treatment if transport to a hospital is delayed or not possible at short notice. The high-quality equipment allows immediate, independent treatment of injured persons without the need for additional equipment. This means that the federal ambulance is not only suitable for use in the treatment sub-unit, but can also be used to set up and operate patient staging and viewing points.

The GW San is built on a MAN chassis type TGL 10.220 4x2 BB as a road chassis. The permissible total weight is ten tonnes. The vehicle is equipped with a relay cab and can accommodate a crew of six. The vehicle will be converted by Wietmarscher Ambulanz- und Sonderfahrzeug GmbH in Wietmarschen. The equipment vehicle carries a 50 m² tent , designed as a rapid deployment tent and filled with compressed air; the accessories include lighting and a tent heater. A portable power generator is carried for independent power supply. The medical equipment includes ventilators, defibrillators, medication and infusions. Stretchers, splints, rescue boards and vacuum mattresses. Much of the equipment is stored in aluminium crates and aluminium baskets and is therefore easy to transport. The large and heavy pieces of equipment (tent and power generator) are loaded onto trolleys; the tent heater is also mobile. The vehicle will have a tail lift for the heavy equipment stored in the rear. The area around the tent can be illuminated with a floodlight. The area around the vehicle will also be illuminated to ensure safe working conditions.

Contact for those interested in volunteering for disaster control:
City of Chemnitz, Fire Department, Department of Civil Defence, Civil Protection, Training, Volunteer Fire Department, Headquarters: Jagdschänkenstraße 53, 09116 Chemnitz, phone: 0371/4 88-37 51, fax: 0371/488-3796, e-mail: info(at)feuerwehr-chemnitz.de - Internet: www.chemnitzer-feuerwehr.de

Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund, Ortsverband Chemnitz und Umgebung e. V., Headquarters: Herderstraße 6, 09120 Chemnitz, Phone: 0371/36 99 94-0, Fax: 0371/3699 94-19,
E-mail: ov(at)asb-ov-chemnitz.de - Internet: www.asb-ov-chemnitz.de

Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, Kreisverband Chemnitz e. V., Headquarters: Altchemnitzer Straße 26, 09120 Chemnitz, Phone: 0371/700 800, Fax: 0371/700 80 149,
E-mail: info(at)drkchemnitz.de - Internet: www.drkchemnitz.de