Rettungsdienst#

Rescue Services: In the Middle Ages the orders ( Knights of St. Johnor Knights of Malta, Knights Templar, Teutonic Order and others) administered first aid in war and peace. In 1769 Maria Theresia issued a patent containing instructions on aid to accident victims and offered rewards for rescue work. Her son and successor Joseph II promulgated similar orders. In 1803 a "Rettungsanstalt" ("rescue institution") was established in Vienna, which served as a model for other European countries. In 1830 the rescue service was taken on by the "Chirurgische Offizinien" ("Surgical Offices"). The Sanitation Law of 1870 entrusted rescue services to the provinces and municipalities. After the disastrous fire at the Vienna Ringtheater, J. v. Mundy, Count J. N. Wilczek and E. Lamezan-Salins founded the "Wiener Freiwillige Rettungsgessellschaft" (Vienna Voluntary Rescue Society) in 1881, while Klagenfurt had already established a "rescue squad" in 1866. At present, rescue work is done by the Oesterreichisches Rotes Kreuz ( Red Cross), the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, the Malteser Hospitaldienst, the Austrian Bergrettungsdienst( mountain rescue services) and water rescue services, the Austrian Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund and others. Rescue operations are also performed by the Police and fire brigades ( Firefighting).