The President of the German Red Cross, Hermann Gröhe, welcomed the initiative proposed by Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) to integrate civil protection into school curricula. According to Gröhe, current proposals aim to incorporate public safety into everyday schooling.
He noted that the Youth Red Cross is already active in many schools and is gaining positive experience through age-appropriate, often digital, offerings. Gröhe stated, “We can strengthen these by connecting them with self-protection content and utilizing students to reach families”.
However, he emphasized that such efforts are dependent on the many volunteer helpers in recognized aid organizations. Therefore, he argued that cooperation with these organizations must become a crucial element of the planned civil protection pact. Furthermore, he stressed the need for volunteer nursing support. He explained that if a hospital suddenly has to accept a very high number of injured people during a crisis, these support personnel can help maintain normal hospital operations.
The Pact for Civil Protection, presented by Dobrindt last week, commits “The Federation to also promote the increasing integration of civil protection into school curricula, so that children learn early how to act in an emergency, and so that this knowledge can be brought into families and encourage interest in voluntary engagement”.
Despite this initiative, the DRK chief voiced significant concerns regarding current deficiencies in civil protection. “There are serious gaps in every area, from equipment to training for the population” he told the RND. He stressed that without civil protection, there is no overall defense in a armed confrontation. Nevertheless, he cautioned that adequate civil protection cannot be built up only in a state of emergency; it requires years of preparation.
As an example of insufficient equipment, Gröhe pointed to the Mobile Care Modules-mobile units envisioned as self-contained small towns that could be set up, for instance, in the neighborhood during a flood catastrophe, providing accommodation, social services, and water treatment for up to 5,000 people. While ten such mobile units were planned, Gröhe stated that only one and a half have been realized. Furthermore, the operation and necessary training for these units are not yet secured.
