The number of volunteers engaged in emergency and relief activities is growing in Italy. Over 4,000 organizations are registered in the national register of the Department of Civil Protection, of which approximately 3,850 are local associations that report to regional coordination bodies. In total, hundreds of thousands of men and women are deployed in the field during major events, as well as helping to address fires, floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. According to the latest ISTAT data, in the decade from 2013 to 2023, organized volunteers in the social assistance and civil protection sectors saw significant growth (+7.7%), especially when compared to the decline in organized volunteering overall (-3.6%). An opportunity to review the development and prospects of this sector will be “REAS 2025,” the twenty-fourth edition of the International Emergency Exhibition, scheduled for October 3-5 at Centro Fiera Montichiari (Brescia).
“REAS is specifically aimed at the many volunteers and professionals in the civil defense sector,” said Ezio Zorzi, director of the Centro Fiera Montichiari, “who find in our event a broad overview of the latest technological innovations in the fields of emergency response, first aid, fire prevention, workplace safety, and even aids for people with disabilities. This year, we’ve seen a further increase in requests from exhibiting companies, accompanied by an ever-increasing quality of merchandise. Our goal is to offer an integrated vision of the emergency system, as well as offering a broad program of conferences and seminars to promote professional development and training.”
With just one month to go until its opening, “REAS 2025” is nearing a sell-out: approximately 280 exhibitors from Italy and 20 other countries have confirmed their presence. In the exhibition center’s pavilions, visitors will be able to view new vehicles and equipment for interventions in areas affected by natural disasters, special vehicles capable of operating in flooded or earthquake-stricken zones, firefighting systems, drones and tracked robots for searching for missing persons, next-generation sensors for monitoring rivers and volcanoes, ambulances equipped with life-saving equipment and for transporting disabled people, and communication systems for connecting operations centers and rescuers. Large outdoor test areas will also be available, providing an opportunity to showcase large vehicles and conduct operational simulations. A busy program of conferences, conventions, and seminars is also underway to train and update professionals and volunteers in civil defense, healthcare, and firefighting.
The “REAS” trade show is organized by the Montichiari Exhibition Center in partnership with Hannover Fairs International GmbH and “Interschutz,” the world’s leading specialized trade fair held every four years and scheduled for June 1-6, 2026, in Hanover, Germany. This year, the trade show will once again feature stands representing Italian government agencies, regions, government bodies, and associations involved in the Italian emergency management system. Admission is free and open to all, subject to online registration here: reas.tmediasupport.com/visitatori
