Prepared for emergencies -
Personnel carrier for the BBK Medical Task Force
What happens after the bang? When the invisible becomes a threat and chemical substances or radioactive particles transform an incident site into a zone where every step must be protected and every aid must be targeted, the decontamination train for injured persons (Dekon V Zug) of the Federal Medical Task Force is deployed – and with it, since 2025, two WAS vehicles. Each of the 61 Medical Task Forces* stationed throughout Germany receives two personnel carriers for the Dekon V Zug: one personnel carrier for command and decontamination of the injured (MTW Fü Dekon V) and one personnel carrier for decontamination of the injured (MTW Dekon V). But what exactly is the Dekon V Zug and when are these special vehicles used?
The decontamination train for injured persons of the Medical Task Force
The Dekon V train is primarily designed to protect the population in the event of defence or tension situations. However, other situations in which it can be deployed include accidents involving hazardous materials or fires in industrial plants. In incidents involving CBRN hazards, i.e. chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards, a decontamination site is set up as an interface between the danger zone and further medical care in order to treat contaminated casualties. With 36 personnel, the Dekon V platoon can decontaminate up to 60 ambulatory and 20 non-ambulatory contaminated persons per hour in its standard configuration – i.e. remove one or more hazardous substances from skin, hair and clothing. The unit's tasks also include performing life-saving emergency measures, providing first aid, assisting in a self-help station and wet decontamination of ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients. The decontamination unit for injured persons consists of a total of five vehicles. In addition to three decontamination equipment vehicles with different specialisations, the two vehicles MTW Dekon V and MTW Fü Dekon V are important modules for setting up and operating the decontamination site. They are designed for transporting equipment and emergency personnel and for setting up and operating the command centre. The equipment includes rescue material and communication equipment such as stationary and mobile radio transceivers. The vehicles differ only in the additional command equipment of the MTW Fü Dekon V (including advanced radio technology and power generators).
*The BBK Medical Task Force
The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) is Germany's central authority for protecting the population in crises and wars and for providing disaster relief across federal states. Within this framework, the Medical Task Force (MTF) was developed as a standardised medical service deployment structure – and is set up identically 61 times nationwide.
Each MTF consists of 5 sub-units, 27 vehicles and 138 helpers. Its tasks:
• Pre-clinical care of injured and sick people at a treatment centre or in decentralised treatment centres
• Decontamination of injured people
• Long-distance patient transport
Attention to detail based on shared conviction
When designing the vehicles, particular attention was paid to ensuring high robustness and off-road capability, as well as excellent ergonomics in the crew compartment. It was important to the WAS team to provide the BBK with full support, even on detailed issues. One example was the question of how a fully loaded emergency vehicle would behave on snow-covered ground. This was not decided on the drawing board in the winter of 2023, but tested in the field: at the German Armed Forces' training area in Bodelsberg, Bavaria, BBK specialists tested different types of tyres under real conditions – inclines, ruts, icy passages. As the vehicle concept had not yet gone into series production at that time, WAS provided an identical vehicle at short notice and ensured that it was loaded in a realistic manner. What became apparent was the shared conviction that nothing should be left to chance when it comes to emergency vehicles. In a changing security situation, in which not only industrial accidents but also the targeted use of chemical warfare agents has become conceivable, robust structures and reliable equipment are in demand. Despite all the careful preparation, our contact Peter Meis from the BBK and his team naturally hope that a defence scenario will never arise. However, this wish does not replace the need to be prepared. And that is precisely why the establishment of the Medical Task Force is being vigorously pursued – as a precautionary response to an emergency that no one wants to experience, but for which one must be prepared.
Customised ambulances: built for your operational reality
Every location presents its own challenges. That is why at WAS we do not develop off-the-shelf vehicles, but tailor-made ambulances that are precisely tailored to your requirements, your environment and your processes. Whether in the city, the countryside or on an island – we deliver tailor-made solutions that make all the difference in an emergency.
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Your contact person
Simone
Bergmann
Head of Marketing/Communications
![[Translate to English:] Simone Bergmann, Head of Marketing, WAS](/fileadmin/_processed_/a/1/csm_Simone_Bergmann_Head-of-Marketing_WAS_b2002fe1ff.webp "Simone Bergmann")