From crisis consultant to equestrian volunteer

Frédéric Sarvaas learned to give back from the beginning

Wednesday, July 14, was a day like any other day at the Distribution Centre for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA DC) in Baesweiler, Germany, for Inventory Controller Frédéric Sarvaas—until he got the alert. He was busy recording weights and dimensions, allocating locations, and optimizing those locations, to keep picking distances as short as possible. His mind was focused on many tasks as he thought about flow charts, exchanging work instructions on-site, keeping up with product lot “hold” requests, and coordinating continuous improvement (CI) training for the EMEA DC staff.

That same day, about 15 miles south of the EMEA DC, unusual, torrential rains were soaking the Aachen region of Germany and causing severe flooding, overflowing reservoirs and turning nearby city streets into rivers. At noon, Frédéric got the alert.

“I was alerted by the city of Aachen to the disaster crisis team through the DLRG, which is the the German Life Saving Association, where I was deployed as an expert advisor for water rescue,” he explained.

The next day, he was alerted by the German Red Cross, where he volunteers as a telecommunicator. This involves the support of the disaster control command, radioing, documenting, and coordinating. So far, his two voluntary activities have never gotten in the way of each other because either one or the other was needed. Now he had to decide.

“There was a shortage of staff at the German Red Cross, so I helped out there,” Frédéric said. “I was deployed at Merzbrück airfield to coordinate the helicopters during the evacuation of a hospital which was flooded.”

At times, there were six helicopters in action and 12 ambulances transporting patients to other hospitals.

Specialized training

All of his training had prepared him for this moment and other moments like this. In 1987, he was just six years old when he learned to swim through a DLRG program. He adapted quickly to the water, and in his childhood he stayed active in beginner swim training. As he grew up, he began volunteering for the DLRG, ultimately becoming a lifeguard and earning a boat license. Step by step he learned to give back to the community through his dedication to the sport of swimming.

To improve first aid training for volunteers, the DLRG collaborated with the German Red Cross, which opened doors for Frédéric for even more specialized volunteering. He began training as a paramedic and telecommunicator in 2005 with the German Red Cross and serves in these roles for the DLRG as well. He later became a group leader and advanced to a unit leader in disaster control for the German Red Cross.

Search and rescue

What does it mean to be a unit leader? Frédéric volunteers in both water and land rescues. His volunteer work for the DLRG is usually focused on local water rescue, while with the German Red Cross he focuses on land rescue.

“Many of our missions support rescue dog squadrons in search of missing persons during crisis events. As a unit leader, I will communicate with the leaders of the squadrons, telling them which areas to search. I complete the logistics and documentation so the rescue dogs can do their work searching for people,” he explained.

During emergency events like a hurricane in 2020, for example, he serves as a consultant for the crisis teams working in the area, mobilizing rescue missions with multiple fire departments, rescue dog teams, and various other aid organizations and asking those organizations questions like, “Do you need boats?” or “Can we help you with manpower?” He helps the crisis teams access those resources. With the German Red Cross, he often communicates at higher levels with the military and other support organizations.

While Frédéric volunteers in crisis communications for the DLRG and German Red Cross, he can also be down in the trenches, operating all modes of transportation for search and rescue.

“Last year,” he recalled, “we had a missing person emergency in which the police asked the German Red Cross for help. Our organization has various types of transportation vehicles, from motocross bikes and land rovers to speed boats to reach where a normal car could not. I rode a motocross bike during this mission.”

Volunteering for horses

He not only helps to keep humans safe on land and waterways, but also takes time to keep horses safe. Since 2001, he has volunteered at the annual Concours Hippique International Officiel (CHIO) in Aachen, which is one of the largest equestrian events in the world, with over 500 horses competing in disciplines such as jumping, dressage, vaulting, eventing, and driving. He leads a staff of about 28 people, who are responsible for controlling access to the million-dollar horses in the stable area.

Frédéric takes six days of vacation every year to volunteer for the event. Most of the DLRG and German Red Cross volunteer assignments are up to one day. Taking time away from Cook, he said, depends on how he sets priorities, the gravity of the crisis, and how his manager approves time off.

“My manager supports me and tells me I can always go volunteer. Cook supports giving back as one of our values, and this is how I can give back. And, despite the seriousness of volunteer assignments, I have made many friendship connections through these organizations and through Cook.”

When asked what the most important reason he volunteers is, he responded, “Everybody will need help at some time, and it’s good to know there will be someone there to help.”

Frédéric’s volunteering spirit and training allow him to be the “someone” who is there to help.

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