Day of Rescuers 2026

On 27 September, I had the pleasure of co-hosting the “Day of the Rescuers” in Gelsenkirchen together with Michael Zurhausen. It was a day that highlighted just how many people and organisations play a vital role in keeping our society safe in times of crisis. Pretty much organisation that has a flashing blue light was there: the fire brigade, emergency medical services, police, THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief), DLRG (German Life Saving Association), German Red Cross, Malteser, the municipal public order service, and many other dedicated people involved in civil protection and disaster relief.

The event was about introducing the different organisations and explaining what they do, but, really, it was about something else, too: the people behind the uniforms.

For many of us, civil protection and disaster preparedness are things we only start thinking about when something actually happens. A blackout. Flooding. A major fire. Severe weather. A situation in which suddenly nothing works quite the way we are used to. What happens then?

 How do the fire brigade, emergency medical services, police, THW and the other organisations work together? And how do you warn people when the usual communication channels are suddenly no longer available? We had plenty of questions, and fortunately, there were plenty of people willing to answer them! I had the opportunity to speak to many incredibly committed and friendly people throughout the day. And I probably learned just as much as I hope our audience did.

That is exactly what I love about my work as a moderator: good moderation is not about saying as much as possible yourself. Quite the opposite. It is about asking the right questions, listening carefully and giving the people on stage the space to share their expertise and experience. This is particularly important when dealing with complex topics. Expertise alone does not automatically make a subject accessible or easy to understand. And sometimes, a seemingly simple question can lead to a very personal and inspiring story.

One of the things I particularly enjoyed about the “Day of the Rescuers” was that it was about much more than conversations on stage. Visitors could take a close look at emergency vehicles and equipment, get involved in hands-on activities and, above all, talk directly to the people and volunteers working in civil protection and disaster relief. And that is exactly what makes complex topics tangible and relatable.

Gelsenkirchen’s Mayor, Andrea Henze, also joined us for the event. She shared her experiences, answered our questions and offered insights into her perspective on civil protection and the responsibilities of a local authority. For me, this is also what makes a successful event format: bringing together different perspectives and creating a personal dialogue that goes beyond prepared statements. And perhaps that is one of the most rewarding aspects of my profession: you don’t just go home from an event with the feeling that you have done a good job. You often leave with new knowledge and a whole collection of stories you didn’t know before. The “Day of the Rescuers” was exactly that kind of day for me.

A huge thanks to everyone who helped make this special event possible. And, above all, to everyone who is there for others not just on one particular day, but 365 days a year.