Almost 700 people take part in emergency response exercise on Dutch-German border
Approximately 630 emergency responders and 65 extras from Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium took part in a large-scale emergency response exercise in Gangelt, Germany, on Saturday 21 March, near the border with the Netherlands.
Called EMREX, the exercise was organised by the Heinsberg district in Germany and the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion Incident Control and Crisis Management (EMRIC) partnership.
EMRIC is a unique consortium of public services responsible for firefighting, rescue services, and disaster relief in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine region. Partners include the district of Heinsberg, the Aachen city region, the Dutch province of Limburg, the Belgian province of Limburg, and the Belgian province of Liège. Their cooperation during the exercise demonstrated that "help knows no borders", according to the Heinsberg district.
Taking place place on the K13 ring road near Gangelt, the exercise scenario was designed so that fire departments, ambulance services and other emergency services all trained on how to act jointly during a major incident in the border region between the three countries.
During the exercise, participants practised rescuing victims from vehicles, managing hazardous materials, CBRN reconnaissance, setting up a decontamination site, and administering medical treatment to and transporting the injured. Cooperation between dispatch centres and supervisors from the participating countries was also tested.
"For the first time in the Heinsberg district, the digital operational support system 'rescueTABLET' was deployed across the board to ensure a real-time, cross-organisational situational overview between the emergency services on site and the control centre," Kreis Heinsberg added. "The 'Eumed Hospital' concept, which finds out available bed capacities in hospitals throughout the region, was also successfully integrated into the exercises."
"Seamless cross-border collaboration"
District administrator Stephan Pusch, who personally observed the exercise on site and triggered the alarm via the Heinsberg district control centre at 08:22, was visibly impressed by the professionalism and effectiveness of the participating units, according to Kreis Heinsberg.
"What we experienced here in Gangelt today is Europe in action and a strong signal for the safety of the people in our border region. I thank every single person who contributed to this logistical masterpiece."
"That volunteers and full-time staff work together so closely and as equals with our international partners is exceptional and not something to be taken for granted. This commitment deserves the highest recognition," he added.
Günther Paulzen of the Gangelt fire department, the longest-serving fire chief in the Heinsberg district, was the exercise director and played a leading role in the more than year-long preparations.
Mayor of Gangelt, Guido Willems, expressed a "heartfelt thank you" to the residents of Gangelt, Vinteln, Hastenrath and Breberen. "We know that a complete closure of the K13 causes inconvenience, but the support and understanding we are experiencing here shows that the population stands behind its rescuers," he said.
Andreas Dovern, chairman of the EMRIC Steering Group, personally witnessed the smooth cooperation between the Dutch, Belgian and German emergency services during the exercise, commenting: "Today in Gangelt, we experienced how excellently EMRIC functions in the spirit of the European ideal. I am very pleased with the commitment of everyone involved, because this seamless cross-border collaboration saves valuable time and therefore lives in an emergency. This exercise demonstrates once again that we in the Euregion are working together on disaster relief in an exemplary manner."
Background
EMREX demonstrated that the different laws and systems of the three countries can be successfully synchronised through regular training and close coordination within the EMRIC network, according to Kreis Heinsberg. "While the emergency services handled the simulated mass casualty incident, regular fire protection and emergency medical services in the region were ensured at all times by local units. The Psychosocial Emergency Care (PSE) team was also involved to realistically simulate the stresses of such an operation," the district added.
The results of the exercise will be analysed in the coming weeks to further refine and improve cross-border protocols for real-life emergencies.
