On September 1, the Federal Association of Emergency Medical Services (BRVD) and its cooperation partners presented the Camillo Award to particularly committed individuals in the preclinical field. The award winners include four non-commissioned officers from the Austrian Armed Forces who have made a special contribution to the quality development of the ambulance service.
The Covid-19 pandemic also presented the preclinical sector with new problems. Deputy Officer Christian Fürst and Staff Sergeant Patrick Weiterberger from the Hörsching field ambulance took on one of the problems and implemented the innovative “Mobile Quarantine Bag” patient transport system on the C-130 Hercules system. This made it possible to transport highly infectious patients over long distances and repatriate them if necessary. Among other things, up to three Covid patients were brought back home at the same time, which was unique in Austria at the time.
Among the army paramedics, Colonel Staff Sergeant Georg Schallegger from Jäger Battalion 25 was awarded the main prize as the mastermind behind the innovation of the paramedic force. He has also played a key role in the further development of self-help and comrade help and has introduced a first responder system. In cooperation with other emergency organizations, a new dimension of first aid is being created here.
Staff sergeant Johannes Kouba from the Hunting Command has also played a leading role in the further development of the medical unit. He received the recognition award for his tireless commitment during the Covid-19 crisis. His research and quick interpretations in particular enabled him to develop plans so that large clusters could be prevented.
“The presentation of the Camillo Award to four soldiers of the Austrian Armed Forces is a recognition and appreciation of their daily performance, especially in times of crisis. On behalf of the entire Austrian Armed Forces, I would like to thank them for their important commitment and extremely valuable service to our society,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner.
The Camillo Award is a special award for proven, dedicated people working in the ambulance service who are committed to high-quality pre-hospital care in Austria through their dedication and humanity. The award winners were selected by a 17-member jury consisting of one delegate from each of the cooperation partners, representatives of recognized rescue organizations in Austria and a member of the BVRD board.
