Better equipment for a safer tomorrow: the firefighters of the Notranjska-Karst region

Zavarovalnica Triglav have once again at the end of the year redirected a portion of funds to support for a range of prevention projects as part of its nationwide campaign. Two Notranjska firefighting associations are among the more than 20 recipients this year: Postojna voluntary firefighting association (purchase of a special decontamination kit for use by firefighters during emergency operations involving hazardous substances) and Knežak voluntary firefighting association (purchase of a firefighting extension ladder for the association's new fire engine).

Slovenia's largest insurer is keen to help the more than 20,000 residents who depend on these two Notranjska firefighting associations to keep them safe. 'This is one way in which the company is putting its mission of social responsibility and the creation of a safer future into practice.We support projects that have a long-term impact and help to improve lives in local communities,' said Jože Celin, director of Zavarovalnica Triglav's Postojna regional office, upon the handover. In recent years, the office has helped expand the network of publicly accessible automatic defibrillators as part of the New Year campaign.

On hand to improve fire safety

The firefighters of Notranjska-Karst are also delighted with their new acquisition, which will increase their effectiveness once their new fire engine comes into operation. 'Given the expansion of different activities outside urban industrial estates, it is important for smaller voluntary firefighting associations, like Knežak,to keep up with the development of these activities and equip themselves accordingly.Rapid and professional intervention also reduces the risk of environmental contamination, which is very important in an area, like the Karst, with its sensitive soil,' said Tadej Slavec, president of Knežak voluntary firefighting association,where the funds from the Triglav campaign will go towards the purchase of a firefighting extension ladder. These ladders are used when fighting fires, and for rescue operations during natural and other disasters. The association intends to install it on their new, state-of-the-art firefighting vehicle, their old one having been destroyed during a wildfire last spring.

The purchase of a decontamination kit, to be used during operations involving spillages of toxic substances, will also improve the range of equipment available to Postojna voluntary firefighting association. 'The uncontrolled spillage of hazardous substances into the environment can present a direct threat to human and animal life and health.It can damage and destroy property and have adverse impacts on the environment,' explained Boštjan Triler, president of Postojna voluntary firefighting association. He added that firefighters around the world have been faced in recent years with the threat of bioterrorism, so the new decontamination kit comes at just the right time.

Fourth year of the 'For a Better Tomorrow' campaign

The 'For a Better Tomorrow' New Year prevention campaign is already in its fourth year. Over the last three years, Zavarovalnica Triglav have supported more than 70 prevention projects throughout the country, with a further 20 or so receiving support this year. In recent years, the company have helped numerous firefighting associations around Slovenia, co-financed the purchase of defibrillators, an ultrasound machine and an ECG machine, and supported a large number of other projects in the fields of healthcare, civil protection, flood and road safety, and child development and safety.