Bringing together representatives from Spain, Germany, and Italy, the session offered a cross-country look at how collaboration, integration, and shared resources can create more resilient, efficient, and life-saving systems in times of crisis.
As disasters grow more complex and global risks continue to rise, the need for integrated emergency response systems has never been clearer. This was the core message of the latest KnowEMS webinar, held on July 10, which explored the crucial cooperation between Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Civil Protection authorities across Europe.
Bringing together representatives from Spain, Germany, and Italy, the session offered a cross-country look at how collaboration, integration, and shared resources can create more resilient, efficient, and life-saving systems in times of crisis.
The event was moderated by Paloma Rey of SAMUR–Protección Civil, Madrid, and featured contributions from Lisa Meier (Johanniter, Germany), Reinhold Hert (German Red Cross), Daniel Muñoz (SAMUR), and Lorenzo Masuglielli (Italian Red Cross).
Lisa Meier, KnowEMS Project Coordinator, introduced the initiative, emphasizing its goal of building a Europe-wide network of EMS operational managers. Co-funded by the European Union, KnowEMS is based on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and previous EU projects such as NO FEAR. Monthly webinars and active collaboration with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism help foster a shared knowledge base to enhance preparedness.
Reinhold Hert presented Germany’s Mobile Care Module 5000, a groundbreaking federal civil protection system developed by the German Red Cross in collaboration with four other national partners. Designed to support up to 5,000 people for one year, each module includes:
Launched in 2020 and already tested during real emergencies such as the Ahr Valley floods, the system highlights Germany’s commitment to scalable, autonomous disaster response and population support.
SAMUR–Protección Civil, Madrid’s unified emergency response service, was highlighted as a model of integration. Unlike many cities where EMS and Civil Protection are separate entities, SAMUR combines both under one organization — with paid EMS staff and volunteer Civil Protection personnel sharing the same infrastructure, protocols, and command.
With over 100,000 calls annually and a response time under nine minutes, SAMUR exemplifies efficiency. Their success is rooted in:
Founded in 1991 and merged with Civil Protection in 1994, the service was elevated to Directorate-General status in 2023 and is now recognized as a WHO EMT-1 Fixed Corps.
As Daniel Muñoz described, SAMUR’s strength lies in its unity: "For the citizens of Madrid, we are not two services — we are one."
Lorenzo Masuglielli of the Italian Red Cross described a comprehensive, multi-tiered system that integrates EMS, civil protection, and specialized rescue capabilities. Acting as both Italy’s largest ambulance provider and a national emergency support agency, the Italian Red Cross manages:
Interoperability, self-sufficiency, and international deployability — including for EU Civil Protection missions — make the Italian Red Cross a vital pillar of European disaster response.
The webinar concluded with key takeaways that apply across all borders:
In a world where crises no longer respect borders — from pandemics and floods to industrial accidents and civil unrest — this webinar reinforced the importance of unity in emergency response. By combining medical expertise, rescue operations, logistics, and community engagement under a shared framework, EMS and Civil Protection agencies can meet tomorrow’s emergencies with strength, speed, and solidarity.
The KnowEMS project continues to support this mission, connecting professionals across Europe to learn from one another, innovate together, and build a safer, more resilient future.