Emergency Responders to Receive New National Honor for Crans-Montana Fire Response
Emergency responders who worked the New Year’s Day fire at the “Le Constellation” bar in Crans-Montana will receive Switzerland’s newly established “Helfende Hand” (Helping Hand) national award, tvsvizzera.it reported. The honor recognizes extraordinary performance in exceptional emergency situations.
The inaugural ceremony takes place on December 8 at the Bern Barracks with support from the Swiss Armed Forces. Beat Jans and Mathias Reynard will attend the event.
Honoring the Entire Rescue Chain in Crans-Montana
The recognition covers every link in the rescue chain that mobilized during the tragedy, which resulted in 41 deaths and 115 injuries. According to tio.ch, recipients include alarm center staff, first responders, volunteer rescuers, rescue services, air rescue, police, firefighters, civil protection, and care teams.
What they saw, heard, experienced that day and the burden they carried far exceeds the typical intervention and accompanies many rescuers still today,
said Pascal Rey, president of “helfen helfen Schweiz,” as cited by tio.ch.
The Basel-based charitable organization helfen helfen Schweiz, founded in 2017, created the award to provide a public signal of support and appreciation for frontline workers. Around 400 guests are expected at the ceremony, including awarded personnel from Valais, neighboring cantons, and border regions.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Helfende Hand Award
Who is organizing the Helfende Hand award ceremony?
The charitable organization helfen helfen Schweiz, founded in Basel in 2017, is organizing the inaugural event with support from the Swiss Armed Forces and backing from bodies such as the Swiss Federation of Firefighters, the Swiss Federation of Police Officers, and the Valais Association of Professional Rescuers, tvsvizzera.it reported.
How many people are invited to the December 8 ceremony in Bern?
Approximately 400 guests will attend the event at the Bern Barracks, primarily comprising the first responders and rescue forces honored from Valais and surrounding regions, according to tvsvizzera.it.
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