The municipal councils of Geel and Laakdal approved the establishment of the volunteer corps in 2025. This initiative, supported by an annual subsidy from the Flemish government, aims to bolster professional emergency services with practical and logistical tasks during crises such as floods, prolonged power outages, or evacuations.
The corps will assist in victim reception and the collection and distribution of emergency supplies. This reinforcement better prepares Geel and Laakdal for potential crises and strengthens their emergency planning.
“"In a crisis, we are often the first point of contact for our residents. That's why we believe it's important to be well-prepared and to bring in extra support when needed. With this volunteer corps, we give residents the opportunity to train and commit to their neighborhood and fellow citizens. This way, we collectively strengthen the resilience of our community."
“"By collaborating with Geel and the Red Cross Flanders, we are building a larger group of trained volunteers from the outset. This increases our capacity and allows us to share knowledge, training, and experiences. This way, we can better support residents in both municipalities when an emergency situation arises."
Volunteers will undergo free basic training, including CPR with an AED, wound care, and using official crisis tools, followed by annual refresher courses and simulation exercises. The Red Cross Flanders is responsible for the training and coordination of volunteers. Candidates must be at least 16 years old and reside in Geel or Laakdal.
Interested individuals can attend an information session: on Monday, November 16, 2026, at 7:30 PM in room 1.14 of the town hall in Geel, or on Monday, November 23, 2026, at 8:00 PM in the council chamber of the town hall in Laakdal. Applications can be submitted via www.eerstehulp.rodekruis.be/vrijwilligerskorps/geel or www.eerstehulp.rodekruis.be/vrijwilligerskorps/laakdal.
