Reasons to help others in the case of an emergency: Volunteer experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy

The present study aims to investigate the experiences and needs of rescue volunteers and uncover their reasons for helping others during this pandemic. Participants consisted of eleven rescuers (aged 24–60 years) who volunteer in the Province of Bergamo, one of the most affected in the world. They were interviewed and four key themes emerged from the qualitative analysis of the texts: (1) Changes in intervention; (2) Volunteers’ needs, fears, feelings; (3) Resilience factors and new awareness; and (4) Patients’ needs, fears, feelings. Participants exhibited fear of contagion, linked above all to the scarcity of information and the risk of transmitting the virus to loved ones. However, this fear did not prevent them from volunteering. The resilience shown by these volunteers seems to be related to many factors, including a sense of duty, the necessity to help others, and the important role played by the group.