Wasserwacht
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(December 2014) |
Wasserwacht | |
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| Formation | February 7, 1883 |
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| Founded at | Regensburg,Germany |
| Type | NGO |
| Headquarters | Berlin,Germany |
Region | Germany |
Membership | 137,000 |
Official language | German |
Key people | Alexander Radwan(President) |
| Website | www.wasserwacht.de |
TheWasserwacht(German pronunciation:[ˈvasɐvaxt];water watchorwater guard) is a Germanlifeguard service.It is one of the five voluntary societies of theGerman Red Cross.The Wasserwacht is anon-profit organizationmade up of on volunteers.
Tasks[edit]
The main task of the Wasserwacht is the prevention ofdrowning. The Wasserwacht's activities encompass many areas, including:[1][2]
Swimming (Schwimmen)[edit]
A task of the Wasserwacht is the training of nonswimmers and the continuation of swimming education among the population.Badgesare awarded based on the level of education, and begin with the "Seepferdchen" (literallyseahorse;the early certificate) up to the Gold German Swimming Badge.
Rescue Swimming (Rettungsschwimmen)[edit]
This group is responsible for the education and training oflifeguards,swiftwater rescuersandrescue swimmers.It cooperates with Germancivil protectionandGerman fire services,especially concerningfloods.
- Teaching ofswimming,rescue swimming(German rescue swimming badge) andfirst aidto the population, especially youth, in schools and federations
- Organization ofcompetitionsin life saving
Boating (Motorboot)[edit]
The Wasserwacht provides live-saving services on most lakes in as well as on the coast of Germany. Therefore, they require fast and powerful transportation in case of an emergency. The Wasserwacht overseesregattasand sailing meetings.
Rescue diving (Rettungstauchen)[edit]
Rescue divers are needed for the salvaging of goods, vehicles, garbage, and corpses. The education of a rescue diver usually takes one to two years. Each active rescue diver of the Wasserwacht is required to undergo a dive-medical investigation annually.
Environmental protection (Naturschutz)[edit]
A task of the Wasserwacht is helping to keepnatureandwaterwaysclean.
In order to accomplish these tasks the Wasserwacht educates interested people with qualified technical abilities from the other departments of the German Red Cross.
History[edit]
TheBavariancityRegensburgis considered to be the birthplace of the lifeguard service of the German Red Cross. In 1883, during a flood,German Red Crossaids were used for the first time. In the following years, "Sanität und Wasserwehrkolonnen" (medical and water rescue stations) developed along the coast and inland waters.
AfterWorld War II,the Wasserwacht, as a government organization, was forbidden by the allied military administration. But theBavarian Red Cross,Bavarianregional organization of the German Red Cross, received permission to resume its work. Other regional organizations followed the example of Bavaria and reinstated their lifeguard services.
Schnelleinsatzgruppen[edit]
For the execution of emergency services on water, the Wasserwacht maintains Schnelleinsatzgruppen (emergency response units). The groups are usually equipped with special lifeguard and emergency service machinery.
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ^"Was bietet die Wasserwacht ihren aktiven Mitgliedern - Wasserwacht im Roten Kreuz".Archived fromthe originalon 2015-03-15.Retrieved2014-12-07.
- ^"Fachdienste - die Spezialisten der Wasserwacht - Wasserwacht im Roten Kreuz".Archived fromthe originalon 2015-03-15.Retrieved2014-12-07.
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