Erfurt, Germany
Around 3,000 Johanniter volunteers and professionals gathered in Erfurt for the nationwide ‘Tag der Johanniter’ (Johanniter Day). The highlight of the event was the first aid and emergency rescue competition. Fifty winning teams from the preliminary competitions of the nine Johanniter regional associations and two guest teams competed to determine Germany’s best rescuers.
Among the distinguished guests were the members of the JOIN Board. They met with the Federal Board of Johanniter Germany on Friday, just before festivities began. This productive meeting allowed the Board to present the latest developments within the JOIN network and the strategy for the coming years. The JOIN Board also attended a ceremony honoring deserving members of our German member, in the presence of Mario Voigt, Minister-President of Thuringia.
The national first aid competition, that takes place every two years, started on Saturday. All participants completed challenging tasks related to first aid and emergency rescue. They mastered scenarios such as traffic accidents, burn injuries, cardiovascular diseases and wound care. All simulations were convincingly performed by professional actors. A total of 130 referees evaluated the performances. Guest teams from our Polish membe, Joannici Dzieło Pomocy also took part and achieved excellent results.
In parallel, a bustling market area featured dozens of stands, letting JOIN showcase its activities — most notably, the Volunteer Swap programme.
(Pictures by Tino Sieland)
Volker Bescht, President of Johanniter Germany, concluded: “Over the past two days, we have experienced great team spirit and fair cooperation in the green heart of Germany. Erfurt was a great host. We would like to thank all the rescuers and participants who contributed to making this ‘Tag der Johanniter’ an unforgettable experience.”