sanitäter

Sanitäter is a term used in German-speaking countries to describe a person trained to provide initial medical care and assist in prehospital emergency services. They may be volunteers or paid staff and work within the broader field of Rettungsdienst (emergency medical service), disaster response units, or event medical services, as well as in hospitals and charitable organizations such as the Red Cross (Rotes Kreuz) or Malteser.

Training and qualifications vary by country and organization. In Germany and Austria, the title covers several levels of prehospital care. The basic level is often referred to as Rettungssanitäter, who complete a dedicated training program and operate under the supervision of more advanced clinicians. A higher level, Notfallsanitäter in Germany, or equivalent roles in other countries, allows expanded medical procedures and greater responsibility, including some independently performed interventions in the field and supervision of trainees.

Duties typically include patient assessment, basic life support (BLS), airway management within scope, bleeding control, immobilization, wound care, monitoring vitals, and preparation and transport of patients to hospitals. Sanitäter also participate in on-site triage during mass-casualty incidents and provide care at public events, sports competitions, and during disasters. They often operate from ambulances or as part of event medical teams, maintain equipment, and liaise with physicians and dispatch centers.

See also Rettungsdienst, Rettungssanitäter, Notfallsanitäter, Sanitätsdienst.