By james art 
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A study abroad experience will create a lifetime of memories for four medics originally from Hassel, Germany.
Thanks to the decades-old Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services Exchange Program, a group of Red Cross paramedics and emergency responders will be able to tour hospitals, police, fire, rescue stations and even historic sites in Virginia over the next two weeks.
Monday’s tour was led by Virginia Beach EMS paramedic Laura Grabarczyk, who traveled to Germany on the program, where she saw many similarities and differences in life-saving services.
“The main difference we saw was that there are doctors who go to 911 calls,” Grabarczyk said. “We have that in Virginia Beach, but very little. They also have ventilators and many different medications that we have.
As part of the program, the group is currently staying at Gerber’s home before traveling to their next stops in the Commonwealth.
“They get to meet my whole family and my dog and all my friends and everything,” Grabarczyk said. “So yeah, it was really great to have them here. We try to get American dishes. We got them Halloween candy because they don’t celebrate Halloween in Germany. “
At Station 14 in Virginia Beach, medics were able to get a bird’s-eye view of an American-style ambulance and equipment. Luisa Hornschuh of the German Red Cross said what they find most fascinating are the many roles paramedics play here in Virginia Beach.
“They’re allowed to do everything themselves,” Hornschuh said. “For example, a cardiac arrest cell — we have to call a doctor for a special medicine. So, they are really allowed to do everything themselves. It’s impressive because there’s so much to know.”
Over the next two weeks, the German medics will continue to tour Richmond, Fredericksburg, Blacksburg and Bristol, Virginia.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, go to WAVY.com.