The European Centre for Disaster Medicine Promotes European Collaboration at the Conference "Firefighters and Institutions"
Brescia 4 May 2024
The European Center for Disaster Medicine Promotes European Collaboration at the Conference "The Fire Brigade and the Institutions"During the recent conference "The Fire Brigade and the Institutions", held in the presence of numerous political and institutional authorities, the European Center for Disaster Medicine (CEMEC) held a significant speech underlining the essentiality of a unitary and collaborative approach at European Union in the management of emergencies and disasters.
The intervention highlighted how climate change, intensive urbanization and technological and industrial progress are increasing the frequency and severity of crises, making effective continental coordination essential. Emphasis was also placed on the importance of community involvement in risk management, a key concept also discussed during the latest Forum of Directors of the 22 Specialized Centers of the Council of Europe.
Maximum effort must be dedicated to promoting a culture of safety and prevention that actively involves institutions, businesses, schools and families, in order to increase community resilience in the face of emergencies. This commitment is manifested through models already widely spread in many European countries, in which emergency medical and fire services integrate volunteers and professionals, ensuring rapid and effective rescue.
This also represents a clear example of "community engagement", in which there is an active involvement of the population within the community of "first responders" as volunteers. In this context, citizens can play a fundamental role in supporting emergency operations, providing not only personnel and material resources, but also in-depth knowledge of the territory and local dynamics.
The presence and intervention of CEMEC at the conference reaffirmed the importance of a joint European commitment to address emerging challenges, strengthening the link between relief institutions and the communities served.