German rescue system--an overview.

Aim of the report is to show the structure, organisation and legal aspects of the rescue system of the Federal Republic of Germany. The laws are the basis of the rescue system in each of the sixteen federal countries. The governments of the countries delegate their tasks to the administrative districts. Several organisations like German Red Cross, the Fire Brigades; societies like Arbaite-Samariter-Bund, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, Malteser-Hilfsdienst take part in the rescue system with a great number of paid professional people and volunteers with a more or less professional education. Who is Who in the rescue system? Who is responsible for medical education and what is the difference between the rescue system and the "doctor on emergency call"? Both systems exist side by side, but they are very different from one another. The "doctor on emergency call" is private organised by the board of general practitioners and is responsible for "all day" emergency cases on weekends and during the night. The task of the countries and districts is to care for the rescue services, and they should only be used for severe injuries and illness. Most of the physicians taking part in the rescue services belong to hospitals and have no financial interests in their duty.