Proposing a model for integrating spontaneous volunteers in emergency response in Denmark

Abstract

Spontaneous volunteerism is a controversial topic in emergency response. Even though professionals and spontaneous volunteers in emergency response have the common aim of aiding those in need, the Danish authorities' framework for involving spontaneous volunteers is very limited. This paper discusses how spontaneous volunteers’ contributions can be integrated into professional emergency response in Denmark, while ensuring professional guidance of this contribution. This paper applies a literature and document study, covering state-of-the-art research on the topic of professional interaction with spontaneous volunteers and the Danish emergency response system, including the role of volunteers, respectively. It is found that involvement of spontaneous volunteers is a professional responsibility, that involvement should be through established or expanding emergency response organisations and focus on tasks related to the common aim of aiding those in need. It is concluded that this can be achieved by applying one-point-of-contact for spontaneous volunteers (rather than division by sectoral responsibility), a registration system enabling access to relevant tasks for spontaneous volunteers, the deployment of a spontaneous volunteer facilitator going into dialogue with spontaneous volunteers to enrol them in professional response, and a humane rejection when it is necessary to reject the offer of help from spontaneous volunteers.