If there is an emergency at the lake - a swimming accident, a cardiac arrest, an icefall in winter - help is needed quickly: but how do you make an emergency call without a mobile phone? Often the mobile phone is left in the car or at home for fear of theft. For this reason, the Björn Steiger Stiftung and the German Life Saving Association (DLRG), Württemberg Regional Association, launched a joint project in 2019 and set up emergency call pillars on beaches and bathing lakes.
Visually, the columns are red and white, making them stand out in terms of colour. They are technically maintenance-free. When an emergency call is made, the pillar emits a light signal. The exact position is known to the relevant rescue control centre. The position is displayed in the control centre's systems as soon as the emergency call is received. This helps the emergency services to find the emergency location quickly.
The pillar is operated at the touch of a button and is kept simple. The voice quality is very good and wireless connectivity is guaranteed via the LTE network. The columns are powered by solar energy, so there is no need for underground cables. This means that the pillars can also be placed away from the power grid without any problems.
There are now co-operations with the DLRG Bundesverband, the Wasserwacht and the VDST (Verband deutscher Sporttaucher).
