Innovation in first aid and rescue at the SAMARITAN Forum 2015

About 200 participants from ten countries convened at the SAMARITAN Forum in Bolzano from 28th to 29th of August 2015. This year’s international Samaritan conference was focused on innovation in first aid and rescue. The participants also exchanged experiences regarding current challenges in volunteer work and emergency aid.

The conference was held in the European Academy (EURAC) in Bolzano. The scientists at the private research centre in the heart of the alps are involved in consultations on the most pressing matters of our time, for example in cooperation with the Council of Europe.

The international convention took place in the context of the 50th anniversary of White Cross. The association, which joined SAM.I. in 1998, was the host of the 8th SAMARITAN Forum.
In various talks, partners from public authorities and technical institutions informed about the latest developments in first aid and rescue. The association Definetz, for instance, demonstrated their so-called “Defikopter”, an unmanned aerial vehicle (“drone”) designed for the delivery of automated external defibrillators (AED). It is able to quickly deliver an AED to a patient with a cardiac emergency. AEDs enable laymen first responders to administer potentially life-saving shocks in the crucial time before rescue services arrive. While AEDs are increasingly available in cities and densely populated areas, the Defikopter project offers a solution for rural regions, where a stationary AED network is not feasible.

In in-depth workshops, the members of the European Samaritan organisations discussed the great hopes they are putting into these new technologies. They also talked about current European challenges in civil protection. One of the aims which the organsations share is to make the process chain in emergencies more inclusive for people with disabilities.
Following the motto “first aid from the beginning”, the partners exchanged their experiences and ideas for first aid education for children and in schools.

Following the conference, the participants as well as additional guests from the association and from politics celebrated the 50th anniversary of the White Cross. More than 500 guests came together on the rooftop of White Cross’s headquarters, to commemorate a successful half century of rescue services in South Tyrol.

During the celebrations, Stephanie Havekost, project coordinator at the SAM.I. General Secretariat, and Michael Schnatz, ASB Germany foreign aid department, held the award ceremony for the 2015 SAMARITAN’s B.E.S.T. local. The winner of the award, which comes with a prize money of 3.000 EUR, was the host White Cross.
The prize money was once again kindly sponsored by Union Versicherungsdienst. The symbolic cheque was handed over by Mr. Manuel Mayrl from the sponsor’s sister company of the Ecclesia Group in the nearby city of Klausen.
The prize also includes a special trophy: It was designed and created by ASB Germany’s sheltered workshop in Zeesen, who already contributed their effort and creativity for the trophies of the previous two award ceremonies.

The award was received by, a.o., Barbara Siri, president of the White Cross, as well as Ivo Bonamico, Director of the White Cross and Secretary General of SAM.I.. The award honoured White Cross’s comprehensive first aid training concept for children and young people “First aid from the very beginning”, which fosters first aid skills and volunteering among young people within the association.

Shortly before the SAMARITAN Forum, the SAM.I. advisory committee convened to elect new members of the presidium. Renata Penazzi, Director of ASSR, as well as Ulrich Bauch, Managing Director of ASB, were elected as vice presidents. Both of them stressed, that they will be advocating for a stronger cooperation in refugee aid.

Photos: WK/Philipp Franceschini