Developing an e-learning platform addressing security and rescue forces to eradicate the lack of disaster preparedness underscored by diverse studies. In order to reach this aim the performance of a needs analysis is essential.

The audience of security and rescue forces was clustered in (emergency) physicians, fire-fighters, policemen, Paramedics and members of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW). For each cluster a questionnaire was developed and corrected by specialists in disaster care. The questions were about previous knowledge, habits of studying; further training habits and internet requirements.

The questioner was posted online during 4 months and was filled in by 1142 persons (141 physicians, 194 fire-fighters, 108 policeman, 444 rescue workers and 255 members of the THW). The biggest lacks in previous knowledge were shown in reacting on CBRN-incidents. 64, 1% thought they were not able to act correctly in case of chemical contamination. The most important learning tools were books, lectures, seminars and the principle of learning by doing. The reasons for using an e-learning platform were saving time, high quality of the tutorials (77% thought it important), quicker reach of information, multimedia formats of the taught facts and links to further information. 55, 2% were slightly unsatisfied with the actual pool of further trainings. The most frequently used sources of information were the internet (78, 8% use it frequently) and colleagues.

The survey shows that lacks in disaster preparedness in Germany definitively exist but it also reflects that most of the security and rescue forces are motivated to do further trainings and use therefore new technologies. But they require a high quality of teaching and a reasonable use of them. There is a need for using innovative Methods, and user-friendly web-based instruction and information modules to address all security and rescue forces in Germany.