FORGOTTEN DANGER: RESCUE WORKERS’ RESPONSE TO LOADS

Abstract

Mass media reports on disasters show, on the one side, destroyed houses, ships, aircraft or a devastated environment, and on the other side present victims and their families who often speak of their experiences and painful losses. However, those who directly participate in providing in disaster relief, organize emergency aid in the shortest possible time and often work day after day without payment are rarely or incidentally mentioned. The mass media are not the only ones to forget about rescue workers. Very often the organizations offering assistance all too frequently underestimate the loads borne by their members and forget about the assistance which rescuers themselves require after an extended rescue operation. Even rescuers themselves tend to disregard their own mental disturbances appearing during a rescue operation and reject the offered assistance. This article analyzes the risks and dangers to which rescue workers were exposed during rescue operations following the snowslides in Galtür and Valzur (1999).