Twelve years ago, Günther Erhartmaier ventured into the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund as a career changer and has been president of the state board ever since. In an interview, he talks about work-intensive night shifts, bullying and the relationship with his “big brother”, the Red Cross.
OÖ Nachrichten: The Samaritan Association of Upper Austria has more than 1000 honorary and 200 full-time members. Are there still enough offspring?
Gunther Erhartmaier: We’re still getting more people in than quitting. However, the low-birth cohorts are problematic. As a result, we have fewer and fewer civil servants. In addition, the willingness of individuals decreases.
Why is that?
Among the volunteers are many who have done night shifts. But these services aren’t as smooth running these days as they used to be, when they only went out once or twice a night. Today, people often go straight from night shifts to day jobs. In addition, the appreciation in society is not that great anymore…
… because people expect more and more from the helpers?
Yes, that’s right. The demands on honorary posts and volunteers have increased. More qualification, competence and responsibility are required. This goes hand in hand with the negative experiences that have increased significantly over the past two years.
You are talking about the time since the outbreak of the corona pandemic.
Our people were increasingly bullied during this difficult phase: For example, an NEF (emergency doctor vehicle; note) that was on its way to a heart attack patient and was stuck in traffic on the way there because of an unannounced demonstration on the Nibelungen Bridge hit the demonstrators with fists. There are always missions where those who are being helped did not always have a good upbringing. With experiences like this, you start to think about whether you have the animo to continue.
Let’s come back to the labour-intensive night shifts. Why is there more help needed now than before?
There used to be a maximum of one or two trips after a certain evening or morning time, after which you could lie down. Today, people call about everything, be it to us, to the police or to the fire brigade. You want a 360-degree care package. As a result, today you are called to assignments that you would never have been called to before.
Doesn’t that sometimes cause trouble for the helpers?
No, we have to ensure the safety and health of the population with all other organizations and we do that with pleasure and with passion. But what is also clear is that it is becoming increasingly difficult for all organizations involved in the manifesto in terms of personnel and funding.
What do you think volunteer organizations need most?
It starts with people and companies being the focus and having to be valued. Volunteers should get discounts in the institutions of the state of Upper Austria. This should also apply to the individual companies, which always release their employees for volunteer work.
The discrepancy between two rescue organizations is portrayed in Wolf Haas’ novel “Komm, sweeter Tod”. How much truth is there in the real relationship between the Samaritan Union and the much larger Red Cross?
(laughs). The cooperation is very positive and also runs at eye level, even if we are something like the “little brother”. Our tasks and interests are the same. The Red Cross and we do the same activities where we are present. We have well coordinated control centers. Since then, the theme of “Come, sweet death” has been a thing of the past. In the villages there is always only one of the two organizations, so you don’t get in each other’s way here. The main area of application Linz and its neighboring communities will be used by us right away, and that works well too.
Source: Nachrichten
