ASB-Hilfsmissionen in Guatemala
Emergency Medical Care

ASB’s FAST Team is WHO-Certified

The First Assistance Samaritan Team (FAST), which is responsible for fast-track aid during crisis abroad, is the first group in Europe to be certified as “Emergency Medical Team (EMT) 1” by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

ASB-Nothilfeteam lässt sich von WHO klassifizieren

ASB's emergency aid team was certified by the WHO.

Photo: ASB/Markus Nowak

ASB's FAST team successfully demonstrated its abilities during the certification process. FAST now belongs to Europe's first NGOs who were classified by the WHO. Therefore, FAST teams can be part of WHO coordinated operations during future disaster situations.

„Your experience is impressive"

„We have seen that the team fulfills our high standards and we say congratulations", says Dr. Ian Norton who leads the EMT classification process. On 13th and 14th of July, the expert and six of his WHO co-workers reviewed the standards and processes of the ASB-FAST in Frankfurt on the Main and Darmstadt. Norton emphasized the drinking water purification capacities of the team. "Your expertise is impressive and I am looking forward to your contributions in our cooperation."

Federal executive board member Ludwig Frölich thanked the WHO team as well as the tested FAST group. "The WHO classification is very important for us because we promote high standards in disaster relief", says Frölich who is volunteering in the FAST himself. "We are very happy and proud to work under WHO's lead in the future."

Drinking water purification and medical help

It took the team one and a half years to prepare for a successful WHO classification. EMT 1 classified teams are expected to have the capacity to deploy at least 20 members, providing emergency aid after natural disasters. In order to meet this criterion, FAST changed its structure considerably, resulting in an increased team size and a larger operating space.

Another one of WHO's requirements is a resource efficient sustenance of our staff during their operations. FAST can look back on ten years experience in drinking water purification. This knowledge is highly beneficial when it comes to supplying water for the staff. Our qualified and highly trained volunteers are self sufficient for up to 14 days.

"With regards to our medical supply we expanded our spectrum. Thus we are ready to deploy even faster", explains Nina Stücke. She coordinates the FAST teams of 120 volunteers from all over Germany.

Background:

The EMT standardization aims at improving the coordination of disaster response and thus helping to save people's lives. The system has three grades: EMT 1 teams need to be with at least three doctors as well as nine paramedics and they need capacities to treat at least 50 patients a day. EMT 2 needs to provide a mobile operating room and 20 beds for inpatient care. For the EMT 3 classification, a mobile hospital with many operation rooms and one intensive care unit are required.

The certification was introduced after the earthquake of Haiti in 2010, when some aid groups were helping without an overriding coordination.

The First Assistance Samaritan Teams are an instrument for fast-track aid. They are part of ASB's foreign aid department. After disasters and conflicts, the members of FAST help worldwide in the fields of drinking water purification and medical care. ASB members from all over Germany form the voluntary FAST teams. They receive an intensive training before their deployment. Last operations were in Haiti (2017, 2016, 2010), Bosnia-Herzegovina (2014), the Philippines (2013), Northern Iraq (2012) and Sumatra/Indonesia (2009).

Learn more about ASB-Foreign Aid

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Help worldwide

ASB Foreign Aid

With its first mission abroad in 1921, Foreign Aid became a major component of the organisation. Humanitarian and democratic principles form the basis of our activities at home and abroad.

ASB-FAST-Team mit Ehrenamtlichen installiert Wasserfilter in Hai
Focusing Resources for People in Need

First Assistance Samaritan Teams (FAST)

In case of an emergency ASB helps as quickly as possible and as long as necessary. In order to further strengthen its response capacities, ASB is building up Emergency Response Teams – the First Assistance Samaritan Teams (FAST).

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ASB Foreign Aid

We help here and now - worldwide

ASB Foreign Aid is helping people after natural as well as man made disasters. We save lives, help to build back better and engage in disaster risk reduction as well as disability inclusive disaster preparedness. Learn more about our projects.