Local county eyes on a substantial million-dollar investment intended to safeguard lives.
Nordwestmecklenburg county, located in northern Germany, is bolstering its emergency response capabilities with the construction of two new rescue stations in Rieps and Muhlener Eichsen. These additions will bring the total number of rescue stations in the county to 12.
The county administrator, Tino Schomann, emphasised the importance of investing in the rescue service, stating that it is crucial for the future due to increasing demands. This sentiment was echoed by Dirk Fröhling, the mayor of Rieps, who welcomed the investment in the Rieps rescue station.
The rescue station at the Wismar clinic underwent modernisation last year, with an investment of around 300,000 euros. The staff at this station were called out approximately 24,000 times between January and September 2024 alone, highlighting the importance of a well-equipped and efficient rescue service.
The rescue station in Rieps is expected to be operational in the first half of 2026, and will be staffed with an ambulance crew consisting of one emergency medical technician and one rescue technician. In addition, trainees for emergency medical technician positions will be regularly stationed at the Rieps rescue station.
Furthermore, the Rieps rescue station will play a role in the training of emergency medical technicians, providing valuable hands-on experience for future professionals. The construction of the station is scheduled to begin in August 2025.
Another new rescue station is planned for Muhlener Eichsen, but further details about its construction timeline were not available at the time of writing.
In addition to Rieps and Muhlener Eichsen, other locations with rescue stations in Nordwestmecklenburg include Reinstorf, Züsow, Bad Kleinen, Gadebusch, Dassow, Schönberg, Klütz, and Grevesmühlen. Three of these stations are located in the city of Wismar.
The investment in the Rieps and Muhlener Eichsen rescue stations is expected to improve safety for residents in rural areas by maintaining response time standards. This expansion of the rescue service network is a significant step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of the people of Nordwestmecklenburg.
The construction of the Rieps rescue station will not only improve the response capabilities of Nordwestmecklenburg county but also serve as a training ground for emergency medical technician trainees, contributing to the health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise of the region's residents. The planned Muhlener Eichsen rescue station is anticipated to further bolster the county's science-backed approach to emergency response, ensuring a safer and healthier future.
