They can be considered fighters of the invisible front - they help the people of Kirov, but their good deeds are rarely spoken about. They hold talks and prevent tragedies, help the elderly, eliminate local emergencies in the region. We are talking about volunteers of the student corps of rescuers. Coordinator Anna Litvinenko told about the life of the only association of this kind in the region and what motivates students to help others. – Anna, who can become a volunteer? – The regional department appeared in 2021 on the basis of the Vyatka State Agrotechnological University. At the same time, the direction itself in Russia is not new, it is 20 years old. Not only students of the Vyatka State Technical University, but also students of other universities, for example, Moscow State Law Academy, Vyatka State University, come to volunteer. Someone noticed our association in social networks, someone was at city events. Now the "backbone" of the corps is 15 people. If we add those who regularly take part in the work of the corps and events, then there are 50-60 of them. - Do you accept girls as volunteers? - Many people think that the main part of volunteer rescuers are young people. However, it is not. There are surprisingly more girls. Practice shows that they are more active and interested. They excel not only in physical training, but also in preventive measures. For girls, it turns out more interesting and better. Especially when volunteers carry out prevention with children in schools and camps. Work with orphans is expected.
Work with orphans is expected. In practice, we will show how to provide first aid. We have a special mannequin for this - "Maxim". On it, the guys will learn how to do artificial respiration, apply splints, and perform chest compressions. In August, in one of the Kirov parks, volunteers held an open master class, where they showed the townspeople how to help with various types of injuries.
– What real situations did the volunteers face?
- The task of the rescue team is to help victims of natural disasters. For example, storms, hurricanes, fires, floods. Also, the guys get the skills that are necessary in finding people. But they cannot do this work on their own. For full-fledged activities in this direction, volunteers must have the status of "Rescuer". It can only be obtained after passing certification.
This year, rescue volunteers helped to eliminate emergencies in the Zuevsky district, reorganize the covid hospital into a place of residence for refugees from the LPR and DPR. In addition to helping in extreme situations, the guys help the elderly, participate in the collection and sorting of humanitarian aid, clean up the graves.
In parallel, the guys study, go to Russian forums. There they undergo a kind of express training.
– Due to what does the volunteer center live?
– He lives at the expense of the material and resource base of the university. The university
has a number of departments that have something that we actively use. For example,
in a university driving school there are several mannequins that we take to practical classes.
In the same way, if we need to go somewhere for master classes, preventive measures,
the university, as far as possible, provides us with a bus. Helps and participation in grant
competitions, and, in part, sponsors.
– What is the center lacking for development now?
- First of all, you need equipment. Rescuers have it specific. For example, you need firefighter overalls, special ropes to climb the climbing wall. We also have our own fire engine, which needs to be equipped with hoses in order to go to incidents. When there is a full-fledged material and resource base, we can attract more children and teach more. – What “bonuses” do volunteers receive for their work? - No reward as such. The guys first of all follow the expansion of their horizons, make friends and, of course, this is the call of the soul. Many guys are not indifferent to the cause, and gratitude in return helps to move on, motivates them to support the common cause. I think one of the main rewards for the guys is the opportunity to receive training in rescue work. It is free for students, and professionals from the Ministry of Emergency Situations work with the guys. For those who pass the certification, the obtained certificates and certificates can help in finding a job. For some, learning can help them find their calling. For example, a person liked to knit fire and rescue knots, later he begins to get involved in mountaineering and comes to tourism. Or, on the contrary, he was engaged in tourism, and then he got acquainted with the work of employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and subsequently is preparing to become a rescuer. Another "bonus" in volunteering is the acquisition of new skills. The guys are climbing training, the rules for providing medical care. There is also an opportunity to personally participate in grant competitions. Now this direction is developed. A huge number of platforms have been created for the children, where they can present their projects, defend and receive funds for their implementation.
The scale of events surprises even experienced people. For example, this year the guys went
to the forum named after E.N. Zinichev. On a huge site, the organizers created an imitation
of several emergencies. Participants plunged into underground tunnels, where they had to help
pull a person out, climbed a giant tower, pulled a car out of the water with the help of equipment,
etc. Many tasks required operational teamwork. To get to such interactive events for many is
a great success. They are unlikely to meet such extreme anywhere else. Therefore, you
can't imagine a better bonus.
