Le Corps grand-ducal d’incendie et de secours. Un acteur incontournable dans la crise sanitaire COVID-19

With the law of March 27th, 2018, the Luxembourg Fire and Rescue Corps (Corps grand-ducal d’incendie et de secours – CGDIS) has been created as a public service. On July 1st, 2018, all emergency care and firefighters, including all volunteer and professional firefighter units, the airport fire brigade, the civil protection units as well as the prehospital medical emergency service merged to become the CGDIS. Due to its single chain of command and structure, all emergency units on the field can efficiently work together through a better coordination in all situations. With approximately 5000 firefighters, of which some 500 professionals, the CGDIS was well prepared for the first COVID-19 wave. The straight organization and the many competencies concentrated within the CGDIS positioned it as a key player in the handling of this crisis beside the involved ministries and administrations. Even though CGDIS has only recently been created, it undoubtedly showed its necessity and efficacy in the management of complex situations like this sanitary crisis.