Drama in Gadebusch: Daycare evacuation brings 100 children to safety!

Drama in Gadebusch: Daycare evacuation brings 100 children to safety!

Imagine you are in a kindergarten and suddenly a smoke detector alerts the entire facility. However, what became reality in Gadebusch on July 18, 2025 was not a real danger, but rather an important exercise to evacuate the local daycare center at Burgsee. Around 100 children and educators had to leave a fog-filled building while the fire department went out to “rescue” four people who were supposedly missing. The emergency services, consisting of 19 members of the Gadebusch fire department, impressively demonstrated how to act in such emergency situations. A fire in the entrance area of ​​the daycare center served as a training scenario, which was organized by the fire department at the end of a project week.

For the children, this was not just an educational event. They had the opportunity to observe the fire brigade operation from a safe distance and were able to learn the most important emergency numbers. The impressive fire engines with flashing lights and sirens that were on site and provided an exciting experience should not go unmentioned. The scenario was successfully completed under the direction of Daniel Schmal. The military leader Sebastian Otto praised the evacuation of the daycare center as exemplary, which shows that such exercises make a real difference in the facilities.

Importance of evacuation drills

Why are such evacuation exercises actually so essential? The answer is obvious: They are not only required by law, but are also of crucial importance for preparing for emergencies, as the new technical recommendation from the German Fire Brigade Association and the Association for the Promotion of German Fire Protection (vfdb) clearly shows. The 49-page guide provides practical tips, checklists and templates that help educational institutions plan and carry out such exercises sensibly.

A key point of this specialist recommendation is strengthening self-confidence and skills in both children and employees. “Evacuation exercises help those affected to act in an orderly manner in an emergency and familiarize them with emergency situations,” emphasizes DFV Vice President Hermann Schreck. In addition, the exercise makes it possible to identify and improve weak points in the evacuation plan - an important step in increasing security in schools and daycare centers.

Practical approach

The new technical recommendation also includes detailed planning and preparation for possible scenarios, recommendations for implementation and tips for gaining knowledge. There are also practical examples from the fire department's perspective as well as appendices with checklists that make preparation easier. This gives teachers and educators the tools they need to optimally prepare their children for emergencies. An important measure that will certainly reassure parents.

Such exercises are not only mandatory, but also valuable preparation for the future. For this reason, they are very popular in the educational landscape. If you would like to find out more about the legal requirements and recommendations, you can download the guide free of charge at feuerwehr-ub.de and thus obtain comprehensive information.