rescue worker
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rescue worker
A person who works professionally for an organization such as the fire department, emergency medical services, or the Federal Agency for Technical Relief and provides help in emergencies and disaster situations. The term is usually used in the plural.
Nach dem schweren Sturm waren zahlreiche Rettungskräfte im Einsatz.
After the severe storm, numerous rescue workers were deployed.
The word consists of 'Rettung' (rescue) and 'Kraft' (worker/personnel). Here, 'Kraft' does not mean physical strength, but is a term for a person who works or acts, similar to 'Arbeitskraft' (worker/labor force).
Jede einzelne Rettungskraft trug zur erfolgreichen Bergung bei.
Every single rescue worker contributed to the successful recovery operation.
This word is almost always used in the plural ('die Rettungskräfte' — rescue workers/emergency personnel), because operations usually involve teams rather than just individuals. The singular form 'die Rettungskraft' (rescue worker) is grammatically correct, but rare.
Die Rettungskräfte waren schnell am Unfallort.
The rescue workers arrived quickly at the accident site.
Rettungskräfte (rescue workers/emergency personnel) are often 'im Einsatz' (deployed/on duty), they 'treffen ein' (arrive), 'bergen' (recover/rescue) injured people, or 'versorgen' (treat/care for) them. A common phrase is also 'die Rettungskräfte alarmieren' (to alert the rescue workers/emergency services).
Die Anwohner alarmierten sofort die Rettungskräfte.
The residents immediately alerted the rescue workers.
rescuer / savior
Der Retter and die Rettungskraft can refer to a person who frees someone from danger. Der Retter mainly highlights the concrete rescue, while die Rettungskraft describes the professional role within an organization and is usually used in the plural. Use der Retter to talk about the act, and die Rettungskraft to talk about the rescue profession.
Eine Rettungskraft zog den Mann aus dem kalten Wasser.
A rescue worker pulled the man out of the cold water.
Der Retter zog den Mann aus dem kalten Wasser.
The rescuer pulled the man out of the cold water.
