Youth of the Stepperger fire department: 24 hours on duty for safety!

Youth of the Stepperger fire department: 24 hours on duty for safety!

The youth of the Stepperger fire department completed an exciting and educational 24-hour program last Saturday. From coordinating operations to preparing food, there was a lot on offer for the young fire brigade candidates. As the Donaukurier reports, the action began on Saturday morning with the capture of the bedrooms in the Stepperger fire department's equipment house, where the youth fire department was supposed to spend its night.

Commander Thomas Auernhammer symbolically handed over command to the new members. The program started straight away with a real emergency: the first alarm was not long in coming when it came to rescuing a person from a shaft. After a self-prepared lunch, the next highlight followed - fighting a fire at the bowling alley in Stepperg. Such assignments are not only exciting, they also train responsive cooperation within the team.

Training and first aid

After lunch, first aid and radio training were on the agenda. These basics are a central part of firefighter training and help young people find their way in emergency situations. The use of first aid measures is not just a theoretical exercise, but is also brought to life in practice. The fire service magazine highlights that the implementation of the rescue chain, from the immediate measures to the hospital, is of great importance for the members of the youth fire brigade.

This training was particularly evident when the young firefighters had to extinguish a small fire at the Hatzenhofen pond at night using a thermal imaging camera. Immediately afterwards, they had to use hand saws to clear trees that were blocking the road after a storm. It was an all-night engagement that gave them not only practical skills, but also a sense of team spirit and responsibility.

A successful conclusion

In the early hours of the morning, an alarm led to a traffic accident between a car and a motorcycle. Here the youth firefighters had the opportunity to apply their newly acquired knowledge in first aid. They secured the scene of the accident and ensured fire protection, which is crucial at a time like this. The young people showed great courage and commitment, which is also reflected in the breadth of the nationwide figures for youth fire departments. The statistics show that over 372,000 children and young people in Germany were active in youth fire departments in 2024 - an increase of 4.3 percent compared to the previous year.

The 24-hour shift ended with a shared breakfast and Commander Auernhammer took command again. This event was not only a test of skills and team spirit, but also a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the solidarity of the youth firefighters while at the same time gaining important practical experience that could be valuable in an emergency.