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The problems are varied, and those responsible are a little at a loss. Are the Samaritan associations slowly dying out? A search for clues.
They help out at the grouch tournament if someone sprains their ankle. At the fun run they provide first aid after a bee sting, they give emergency aid courses. The volunteer helpers of the Samaritan associations. But the Swiss tradition seems to be endangered.
The Samaritan associations Murgenthal (AG) and Obergösgen (SO) only recently disbanded. The one in Oberdorf (SO) was also dissolved after over a hundred years in 2020, the Samaritan Association in Engstringen (ZH) dissolved in 2018, the one in Schattdorf (LU) is fighting for its existence. There are plenty of examples – what’s going on?
The driving schools advertise the completion of the emergency helper courses with free driving lessons.
One problem is the lack of offspring. In the past, you had to complete the emergency helper course required for the car test at a Samaritan association, but you can now also complete this course at driving schools. «The driving instructors advertise emergency aid courses with free driving lessons. If you can save a hundred francs like that, you can do that too. So we lost more and more people in our own courses, ”says Manuela Siegenthaler, President of the Samaritan Association in Murgenthal.
The competition ensures less contact with young people. The youngsters stay away, as does the income from the courses. Helping people is a matter close to her heart, says Manuela Siegenthaler. The oldest member of their association was there for 68 years. Siegenthaler believes that today not everyone wants to take on responsibility and help. What should I do? «If I knew that, I would have saved my club from being dissolved. I don’t know, ”she says helplessly.
Legend:
Expensive material? Lack of hearing? Youth problems. The Samaritan associations are fighting for their existence on various fronts.
Keystone
In the past 20 years 45 Samaritan associations have disappeared in Aargau alone. “The clubs in the region are not doing well. A few are still well positioned, but that can change suddenly, ”says Ursula Eichenberger, branch manager of the Aargau Cantonal Association. The canton is also to blame for the misery: “They don’t listen to us enough”. Fire brigades would receive over 20 million francs in cantonal funds per year, the Samaritan associations only a few thousand.
The canton listens too little to us associations.
Competition, problems with young talent, lack of appreciation, plus internal association problems. Some Samaritan associations have left the association. They were dissatisfied with their own leadership. The Samaritan Association Lägeren-Wettingen (AG) is no longer part of the association, it is now called Sanität Wettingen-Limmattal. The same thing happened in Balstahl (SO).
Criticism from within our own ranks
The Swiss umbrella organization, the Samariterbund, demands too many taxes, criticizes Manuela Siegenthaler from the Samariterverein Murgenthal, for example. In addition, the material that you get through the association is more expensive than if you order it elsewhere. Furthermore, the requirements for the training were constantly changing.
The Swiss umbrella organization counters the criticism. They clearly admit to voluntariness and the Samaritan system. But there is a surge in professionalism going on, he writes on request. Switzerland-wide standards are needed so that lay Samaritans can work together with professional rescue workers. Regarding the charge of the expensive material, the association says that the prices in the online shop are “in line with the market”.
One thing is clear: the problems of the Samaritan associations have far-reaching consequences. They also meet sports clubs, which the helpers can usually book for their events on favorable terms. If they have to hire professionals for the Grümpel tournament or the city run, it costs accordingly more.