VMSZ ÖTE

What VMSZ ÖTE does

VMSZ ÖTE (Vízimentők Magyarországi Szakszolgálata és Önkéntes Tűzoltó Egyesület) is a Hungarian non-profit association founded in 2000 and headquartered in Balatonfüred, operating as Hungary's largest water rescue organization. The organization provides year-round water rescue, emergency medical care, and drowning prevention services centered on Lake Balaton, deploying 450 lifeguards across 57 beaches, multiple rescue vessels (including emergency rescue boats and Airboat ASAR3/ASAR8 air-cushion craft for marsh and ice operations), land ambulance units, and dive teams. In 2025 alone, it handled 3,702 beach cases, conducted 306 rescue boat launches, and rescued 127 people from the water.

Its core digital product is the BalatonHelp mobile application, rebuilt in June 2025, which provides free GPS-based emergency distress calls with optional BalatonHelp Plus subscription packages for non-emergency boat assistance; this is complemented by the proprietary BALATRÓNK-2 digital radio network for beach-to-coordination-center communication. VMSZ also operates a portfolio of government-licensed training courses (open-water lifeguard, pool master, water slide operator), a life jacket lending program (10 stations), a restaurant (Fedélzet Bisztró), a donation shop, and a podcast series, and runs event security for major lake competitions including Kékszalag and the Balaton Crossing.

VMSZ operates as a non-governmental organization without state funding. Its revenue model combines commercial service contracts (beach lifeguard contracts, event security, diving services), corporate sponsorships (MOL, Telekom, BAHART, BMW Leier Autó, GARMIN, Coca-Cola, PwC, Toyota Material Handling), Hungarian 1% personal income tax designations, training course fees, subscription revenue (BalatonHelp Plus), and ancillary commercial operations (restaurant, donation shop). Customer segments span individual beachgoers and water sports participants, sports event organizers, municipal and government agencies (police, hospitals, national parks), and aspiring lifeguards.

Name

VMSZ ÖTE

Legal name

Vízimentők Magyarországi Szakszolgálata és Önkéntes Tűzoltó Egyesület

Website

https://vizimentok.hu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VMSZ ÖTE is Hungary's largest non-profit water rescue organization, founded in 2000 and providing year-round lifeguard, deep-water rescue, emergency medical, and training services across Lake Balaton. It serves beachgoers, event organizers, municipalities, and lifeguard trainees through 57 beaches, 450 lifeguards, and the BalatonHelp mobile app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Rescue Services

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (488390)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAOAMAJ

Lifeguard, Water Rescue & Aquatic Safety Training

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Protective Services & Public Safety Training

SECONDARYTHAAABAL

Water Safety, Lifeguarding & Training Services (Staffing, Certification)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Water Parks

SECONDARYEDALAIAF

Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding)

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Athletics, Recreation & Fitness

Keywords

• Water rescue services
• Beach lifeguard services
• Emergency medical response
• Lifeguard training courses
• Drowning prevention programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Balatonfüred

HQ country

Hungary

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Lifeguard and rescue service fees: Commercial revenues from providing lifeguard services at 57 beaches, deep-water rescue operations, event security (triathlons, open-water swims, lake crossings), diving services, and other professional water safety services.
2. Corporate and institutional sponsorships and donations: Financial and in-kind support from corporate sponsors (MOL, Telekom, GARMIN, Toyota Material Handling, Coca-Cola, PwC, etc.), government ministries, and foundations (MOL-Új Európa Alapítvány, BAHART, Bethlen Gábor Alapkezelő, etc.). BAHART donated 1,000,000 HUF.
3. Personal income tax 1% donations: Hungarian residents can designate 1% of their personal income tax to VMSZ as a registered public benefit civil organization. Average donation ~4,000 HUF per donor.
4. Fedélzet Bisztró restaurant: The organization operates its own restaurant, Fedélzet Bisztró, in Alsóörs, diversifying revenue streams beyond rescue services.
5. BalatonHelp Plus subscription: Premium subscription service offering non-life-threatening assistance for boat owners: motor breakdown, fuel shortage, boat towing. Available in packages tailored to vehicle type.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VMSZ ÖTE provides professional water rescue, beach lifeguarding, emergency medical care, and drowning prevention services primarily on Lake Balaton. The organization staffs 57 beaches with 450 lifeguards, operates deep-water rescue boats and Airboat air-cushion vessels, runs a free BalatonHelp mobile app for one-touch emergency distress calls, and delivers vocational training for aspiring lifeguards, pool masters, and water slide operators.

Product overview

VMSZ ÖTE (Vízimentők Magyarországi Szakszolgálata és Önkéntes Tűzoltó Egyesület — Hungarian Water Lifeguards Professional Service and Volunteer Firefighters Association) is Hungary's largest water rescue organization, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Balatonfüred. The organization operates a multi-product portfolio centered on water safety services for Lake Balaton and other Hungarian waters. The core offering is BalatonHelp, a free mobile emergency application that enables one-touch distress calls with precise GPS location transmission to VMSZ ÖTE's rescue dispatch center, supplemented by optional BalatonHelp Plusz subscription packages for non-emergency assistance (towing, fuel, mechanical breakdown). Operational lifeguarding services form the service layer: beach lifeguarding at 57 beaches (with 450 lifeguards), pool master services for indoor facilities, deep-water rescue using a fleet of rescue boats and Airboat propeller craft, diving operations, event security for aquatic sports events, and VMSZ Ambulance land-based medical response. Supporting these are prevention and education products including open-water lifeguard, pool master, and water slide operator training courses; children's camps; and downloadable training materials. Complementary commercial activities include a restaurant (Fedélzet Bisztró), a donation shop, and a podcast series. The organization also maintains a proprietary two-way radio network (BALATRÖNK-2) for field-to-dispatch communication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BalatonHelp: Mobile application for emergency assistance on Lake Balaton - allows users to call for help with one button press, transmitting their location to rescue coordinators.
• Fedélzet Bisztró
• VMSZ Ambulance

Products and services

• BalatonHelp Mobile Application Free mobile emergency application for Lake Balaton allowing users to transmit their GPS location to the VMSZ rescue dispatch center with a single button press. Available 24/7 year-round for emergency distress calls; optional BalatonHelp Plus subscription packages cover non-emergency assistance such as motor breakdown, fuel shortage, and boat towing.
• Beach Lifeguarding (Strandi vízimentés) Lifeguard services at designated beaches across Lake Balaton including preventive swimmer monitoring, water rescue, first aid, and emergency response. In 2025, VMSZ operated at 57 beaches with 450 lifeguards who handled 3,702 cases.
• Pool Master Service (Úszómester szolgálat) Lifeguard service for indoor and outdoor swimming pools and constructed basins. Pool masters perform preventive surveillance, water rescue, first aid, and coordinate with facility maintenance staff for safe daily operations.
• Deep-Water Rescue (Mélyvízi mentés) Deep-water and open-water rescue operations using dedicated rescue boats, including emergency rescue boats and Airboat propeller-driven craft capable of reaching marshes, reed beds, and icy or partially frozen waters. In 2025, rescue boats launched 306 times and rescued 127 people.
• Event Security (Rendezvénybiztosítás) Water rescue and emergency medical coverage for aquatic and lakeside sporting and cultural events including the Balaton Crossing, Kékszalag sailing race, Keszthely Triathlon, and the Winter Lake Balaton Crossing, deploying boats, lifeguards, and land-based medical units.
• Diving Operations (Búvármunkák) Professional diving services including underwater search, rescue, and technical recovery operations. VMSZ's diver team conducts submerged vessel recovery, missing-person searches, and infrastructure inspections.
• VMSZ Ambulance Emergency medical service providing land-based patient transport and on-scene medical care, equipped with dedicated emergency response vehicles (case cars and paramedic vehicles) operating across the Lake Balaton region.
• Open-Water Lifeguard Training Course Vocational training course for open-water lifeguards operating at natural and artificial beaches. Covers preventive surveillance, water rescue techniques, first aid, emergency communication, and scenario-based response. Authorized by government licensing (Felnőttképző engedély: E/2023/000068; B/2020/003565).
• Pool Master Training Course Vocational training course for pool masters working at indoor and outdoor swimming facilities. Includes rescue techniques, first aid, facility operations, and theoretical knowledge of pool systems and water treatment. Prerequisites include minimum age 16 and swimming proficiency (200m in under 7 min).
• Water Slide Operator Training Course Vocational training course for water slide operators at bathing facilities. Covers safe operation of Class I and II entertainment equipment, guest supervision, and preventive safety procedures. Authorized by Budapest Capital Government Office (BP/0102/1798-1/2023).
• Fedélzet Bisztró A restaurant operated by VMSZ at Alsóőrs (Vasút utca 7.), offering food and beverages. Proceeds support the organization's rescue operations and serves as the venue for VMSZ general assemblies.
• Donation Shop (Adománybolt) Online and physical shop selling branded merchandise (t-shirts, caps, memorabilia, anniversary commemorative apparel, and children's products) to support VMSZ's rescue operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,702 cases handled at beaches, 127 people rescued from water, 30 direct water rescues, 56 cases requiring higher-level medical care, 306 rescue boat launches, 15 events secured in 2025 alone.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Magyar TelekomcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Joint 2026 summer campaign to promote the BalatonHelp app. Telekom staff at 15 beaches assist with app download and setup. Telekom donates 500 HUF per download to VMSZ up to 3 million HUF total. Joint promotion at biztonsagbanabalatonon.hu with a quiz on water safety.
• Siófoki Kórház-RendelőintézetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Cooperation agreement signed June 4, 2025 aboard a VMSZ emergency rescue boat at Siófok harbor. Focus on joint training, mutual assistance, and faster emergency response to water-related incidents. Also includes public safety education.
• Együtt Balatonudvariért EgyesületminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Joint installation of the 10th life jacket lending stand at Fövenyesi Strand, Balatonudvari in June 2025. The local community association helped fund and install the stand.
• Veszprém Vármegyei Rendőr-főkapitányságcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Formal cooperation agreement signed May 28, 2025 in Alsóörs between Police Brigadier General Dékány Balázs and VMSZ President Bagyó Sándor. Covers joint training, lectures, and events for coordinated water and land rescue operations.
• Hévíz-Balaton Airport Kft.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Airboat rescue training partnership. VMSZ conducts ice and marsh rescue operations from the airport area. The airport's 8km emergency response obligation extends over Kis-Balaton, requiring VMSZ's air-cushion boat capabilities for inaccessible wetland rescue. Joint exercises conducted in January 2025.
• Nyugat-dunántúli Vízügyi IgazgatóságcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Operational partner in the Kis-Balaton Water Protection System. Joint airboat rescue exercises at the Laki István lock. Supports VMSZ with technical expertise and area access for water quality emergency response and rescue operations.
• Balaton-Felvidéki Nemzeti Park IgazgatóságcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Territorial management partner for Kis-Balaton rescue operations. Provided access and support for airboat rescue exercises in the protected natural area.
• NOVOFER Zrt.coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025NOVOFER Zrt. President Jamrik Péter, a VMSZ member since 2000, developed the BALATRÖNK-2 digital radio system enabling VMSZ lifeguards to communicate with the Rescue Coordination Center. Jamrik Péter received the HTE Életműdíj (Lifetime Achievement Award) in 2025 from the Scientific Association of Telecommunications and Informatics.
• CIG Pannónia CsoportminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Co-produced a safety video with actor Szabó Győző (VMSZ life jacket ambassador) on safe SUP (stand-up paddleboard) practices, released in 2023.
• Pannon-WorkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a cooperating partner on the VMSZ website. Pannon-Work is a staffing/HR company that may provide temporary lifeguard staffing support.
• Sea-HelpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a cooperating partner. Sea-Help is a water rescue assistance service, potentially complementary or collaborative in the Central European water rescue ecosystem.
• Országos Meteorológiai SzolgálatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Meteorological Service. VMSZ coordinates with OMSZ for weather information, storm warnings, and storm signal (viharjelzés) information essential for beach safety decisions on Lake Balaton.
• Balatonfüredi Yacht ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVMSZ collaborates with BYC for rescue operations in the sailing club's area. BYC Managing Director Böröcz István also serves as Chairman of the Vízimentésért Alapítvány (Foundation for Water Rescue).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Sea-Help: A Central European water rescue assistance service for boat owners operating on lakes and coastal waters (including assistance for mechanical breakdown, towing, and emergencies). Listed in VMSZ's own data as a cooperating partner; directly comparable in mission scope of paid subscription boat-assistance and emergency dispatch.
• Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS UK): UK charity focused on drowning prevention, lifeguard training, and aquatic safety education; delivers certified lifeguard and pool-rescue courses comparable to VMSZ's open-water and pool master training portfolio. Closely comparable training/certification business model.
• DLRG (Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft): Germany's largest water rescue and lifeguard organization, providing open-water rescue, beach lifeguarding, swimming and lifeguard training, and drowning prevention. Directly comparable as a non-governmental, member-supported water rescue charity with training academies and beach services; operates across lakes and coastal waters similar to VMSZ's profile.
• Wasserwacht (German Red Cross Water Rescue): The water rescue branch of the German Red Cross, providing lifeguarding, swimming and water rescue training, and inland/coastal emergency response. Closely comparable to VMSZ in operating model — volunteer-based, training-driven, lake and open-water focus, and integrated with broader emergency response.
• Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM): France's volunteer sea rescue organization, operating lifeboat stations, beach lifeguarding, and water rescue training. Directly comparable mission and operating model (volunteer + paid rescue staff, donations-funded, training programs), though focused on coastal/maritime rather than inland lake operations.

Others

• Bundesverband Aquatische Rettungstechnik (Aquatic Rescue Tech Association): German/Austrian trade and standards body for aquatic rescue equipment and operators; comparable to VMSZ's vocational training and certification authority, and a potential partner reference for Central European lifeguard standards.
• International Life Saving Federation (ILS): The global umbrella body for national lifesaving and lifeguard organizations, including DLRG, RLSS, and Surf Life Saving bodies. Comparable as the federation that sets lifeguard certification standards and training frameworks that VMSZ's vocational courses align to.
• Országos Mentőszolgálat (National Ambulance Service Hungary): Hungary's state-funded national ambulance service, which formally cooperates with VMSZ and recognized it in 2026. Adjacent rather than directly competing: provides land-based emergency medical care while VMSZ provides water rescue and beach lifeguarding; both serve the same end-user emergency needs.

Emerging players

• Vöröskereszt Magyarország (Hungarian Red Cross): Hungarian Red Cross operates first-aid training and water safety programs in Hungary comparable in scope to VMSZ's prevention and education activities. Partial overlap as an NGO with first-aid training; less specialized in water rescue than VMSZ but adjacent in mission.

Broad incumbents

• Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI): The UK's largest lifeboat and water rescue charity, operating year-round coastal rescue services with a much larger volunteer base and fleet. Directly comparable as a non-governmental water rescue organization funded by donations and commercial revenues, with training academies and lifeguard services; differs in scale and coastal vs. lake focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vizimentok
• Instagraminstagram.com/vizimentok
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vmsz-iroda

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VMSZ ÖTE