Volunteer Reserve Rescue Team (in Estonian Vabatahtlik Reservpäästerühm or RPR) is an Estonian non-governmental organization. The organization was established in 2002 in order to support the professional Rescue in case of extensive natural and civilian disasters (e.g. forest fires, oil spills etc), and the Police to find lost people. The main purpose is to provide these organizations with help of volunteers as skilled and organized force.
RPR is operating in three main fields: Search and rescue, fire rescue and civilian protection.
More than 200 volunteers of different professions are the members of the Team, amongst them are 25 dog-handlers with their specially trained search and rescue (SAR) dogs. Person joining the Team is presumed to have covered the basic rescue and first aid training. Additionally, members can choose among different special trainings from psychology to leadership in emergency situations.
Besides being operating reserve, prevention work is another important aspect of the Team`s function. The aim is to raise awareness on fire safety and to instruct different target groups from children to adults how to react in certain critical situations. Training goes from fire extinction to first aid. Again, we have close co-operation with Estonian Rescue Board and regional rescue centers.
Team`s members can choose between specialized groups to have a certain preparation beside the basic training to react on situations.
Our fields of operation
- First response to natural and civilian disasters
Large scale fires, e.g. forest fires, oil spills, flood etc. RPR is involved in these activities through Estonian Rescue board and local governmental institutions, e.g the city of Tallinn. - Search and rescue of missing persons
Search and rescue with highly trained SAR dogs and human resources. RPR is only involved in SAR activity through Estonian Police. - Civil protection
Executing mass evacuation, mobile shelter and base camp logistics. - Logistics
Providing logistical support (food, equipment, IT, communication), setting up and maintaining a base camp during large scale rescue operations. - Rescue
Supporting professional rescuers during large scale rescue operations and in daily activities as volunteers in local professional fire station, fire prevention, running the volunteer fire brigade in Aegna island. - Water rescue
During summer months providing additional support to Estonian Police and Border Guard with our rescue boat. - Prevention
Raising awareness on fire and water safety as well as civil protection.