German paramedics train with Richmond first responders
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Four paramedics from Germany are spending this week riding along with first responders across Central Virginia as part of an EMS exchange program established in 1995.
The visit included time with the Richmond Volunteer Rescue Squad, where the paramedics trained, responded to calls and compared equipment and procedures with their Virginia counterparts.
“They wanted to experience what EMS was like in the United States, and it’s carried on for 30 years,” said Brandon Baugus, vice president of the Richmond Volunteer Rescue Squad.
The exchange began after paramedics with the German Red Cross in Kassel, Germany, connected with Virginia first responders. Since then, groups have traveled in both directions to experience how emergency medical services operate in another country and build relationships with fellow first responders.
The program generally alternates between visits to Virginia and Germany. Baugus said the COVID-19 pandemic was the only interruption in the exchange’s three-decade history.
This year’s German group arrived in the Richmond area Sunday. Their week included time with Lake Anna Rescue, Chesterfield Fire and EMS, Richmond-area first responders and the Virginia Department of Transportation. They also spent time riding along on calls and getting a look at different parts of Central Virginia.
The visiting paramedics said many of the calls they encounter here are similar to what they see at home, but there are differences in how the two EMS systems respond.
One of the biggest involves the role of physicians.
In Germany, physicians can respond directly to some emergency scenes, allowing more treatment to take place before a patient is transported. In the United States, paramedics often have more independence in the field and patients may be transported to a hospital sooner.
“In the U.S., you bring the patient to the hospital. In Germany, we bring the hospital to the patient,” said Johann Hecht, one of the visiting paramedics.
The group also compared the equipment carried on ambulances. While the specific tools and layouts can differ, the paramedics said much of what they use to treat patients is familiar on either side of the Atlantic.
For Baugus, this week has been a chance to experience the exchange from the other side.
Last year, he was one of four Virginia first responders who traveled to Kassel for an 18-day visit. Baugus said they rode with German Red Cross ambulance crews and visited fire stations and other public safety agencies while learning how Germany’s emergency response system operates.
“It was the best experience of my life,” Baugus said. “People-wise, we said, ‘same stuff, different country.’ That was the motto.”
Despite differences in equipment and procedures, both the German and Virginia first responders said the underlying work is familiar.
“People will have medical problems completely everywhere where they live, and if they have a medical problem, they will require help,” one of the visiting paramedics said.
The exchange also extends beyond time spent in ambulances.
The visiting paramedics have spent time sightseeing, hanging out with their hosts at the station and even playing a few games of pool. They said the reception from first responders at the agencies they visited has stood out.
“Basically everywhere we went, everyone is so interested in our work,” said Charlotte Schäfer. “It is really great.”
Baugus said those relationships are a major part of why the exchange has continued for three decades.
“These guys are family now,” Baugus said.
The German paramedics will continue their trip in Virginia before eventually heading home, taking with them a firsthand look at how their American counterparts respond to emergencies, and new connections with first responders thousands of miles away.
You can learn more about the exchange program on Richmond Volunteer Rescue Squad’s Facebook page.
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