Record numbers

Record deployment: silent heroes more in demand than ever

Families often experience a stroke of fate in the run-up to Christmas that is difficult to deal with alone.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com/Dragana Gordic - stock.adobe.com)

During the contemplative Advent season, it is not uncommon for unnoticed personal crises and strokes of fate to lie dormant: The approximately 685 members of the Styrian crisis intervention teams are currently in particularly high demand. The figures also prove that their commitment is becoming increasingly important: 2024 is likely to see a record high in deployments.

An elderly gentleman suffers a heart attack during a family meal. The paramedics try to resuscitate him, but to no avail. He leaves behind a wife, children and grandchildren who have to come to terms with the sudden death of their loved one. This is precisely the moment when the silent heroes come into action: "We are always called out when people are in crisis," explains Bettina Galli-Magerl, Head of the Red Cross Crisis Intervention Team. And the volunteers' empathy is more in demand than ever - be it in cases of suicide, fatal accidents or severe weather disasters.

The figures speak for themselves: Galli-Magerl's team had already been called out 345 times by December of this year. This means that the previous year's figure has already been exceeded - and the trend has been rising for years. The same applies to the second crisis institution: with 371 deployments in the first half of the year, the Styrian counterpart could exceed the 700 mark for the first time in its 25-year history, explains Head of the Coordination Center Cornelia Forster.

"I do the work so that those affected don't have to bear the excessive demands of the first few hours alone."

Bettina Galli-Magerl, KIT Rotes Kreuz Steiermark

Bild: Rotes Kreuz Steiermark / Verena Koch

The two centers are mainly called in by the police and rescue services in cases of hardship and have one thing in common: "Most of our work is quiet," says Forstner. However, Galli-Magerl emphasizes that their job description is becoming increasingly well-known. Last summer, for example, the support of the hundreds of volunteers was particularly appreciated.

Drive amok etched in the memory
Major operations like these are remembered. For Galli-Magerl, it is above all the rampage through Herrengasse in Graz that has burned itself into his memory. "We were on duty for a very long time back then. We were confronted with deaths and then we tried to reunite family members who had lost each other," says the 37-year-old.

In crises, you can count on 285 Red Cross employees and 400 volunteers from the country.

(Bild: Rotes Kreuz Steiermark)

Since completing her training in 2014, she has remained loyal to crisis intervention work, taking over as head in 2018. Galli-Magerl is still on call - for the same reason as before: "So that those affected don't have to bear the overwhelming burden of the first few hours after serious events alone," says the clinical psychologist.

"For the most part, our work is quiet. The number of call-outs is increasing, partly because the alarm system now works very well."

Cornelia Forstner, KIT Land Steiermark

Bild: Land Steiermark

Above all, however, she passes on her knowledge to new volunteers. Twice a year, the five-month training course, including theory at the weekend and a kind of internship at the Red Cross, is offered. "Our courses are always very well attended, but of course there are never enough volunteers - especially in rural areas." It's not an easy job: "It's sometimes difficult when you can't separate yourself so well because, for example, the deceased child is the same age as your own," says Galli-Magerl.

For this reason, the employees always go out in pairs. Because crises often have a long tail, the crisis intervention teams also offer psychological support for paramedics and the like. And there is also the option of supervision for their own emergency personnel.