Kreis Kleve (District of Kleve)
EmergencyEye® enables us to quickly and accurately assess emergencies without the need for additional technology on site – this saves valuable resources and reduces unnecessary journeys and leads to a more targeted deployment of rescue resources, for example when a cyclist was involved in an accident and a severe traumatic brain injury could be detected even before reaching the scene of the accident. Thanks to the live video transmission, the dispatcher recognized that fluid was leaking from the victim’s ear.
Thanks to EmergencyEye® , a rescue helicopter was activated, which arrived at the scene of the accident within a very short time so that the cyclist could receive life-saving treatment.”
[Stefan Hartmann, head of Kreis Kleve emergency call center]
Efficient emergency response: perfectly coordinated around the clock
Emergency response in Kreis Kleve is based on the well-coordinated interaction of various organizations that ensure the safety of the population around the clock. The emergency call center plays a central role here, serving as the first point of contact for emergency calls and coordinating all operations by the fire and rescue services.
Staffed around the clock, the control center receives all emergency calls via 112 and decides within seconds which measures need to be initiated. This is where all the information comes together – from the initial report to the coordination of the emergency services on site. As soon as an emergency call is received, it is analyzed in detail and the relevant fire departments, rescue services or disaster control units are alerted. At the same time, the control center monitors the current emergency situation, maintains contact with the emergency services and supports them with important information.
Especially in critical situations, fast and precise control is crucial. The emergency call center works with state-of-the-art technology to plan operations efficiently and avoid unnecessary delays. It always has an up-to-date overview of all available emergency vehicles and personnel so that it can react flexibly to new emergencies. In the event of major emergencies or particularly serious incidents, it works closely with neighboring control centers and civil protection to ensure comprehensive emergency response.
The emergency call center is supported by a network of experienced fire departments and aid organizations, including the German Red Cross, Malteser Hilfsdienst, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft and Technische Hilfswerk (THW). This cooperation ensures that help can be provided quickly and in a targeted manner in the event of an emergency.
Thanks to this well-coordinated structure, Kreis Kleve is optimally prepared for a wide range of emergency situations – from fires and serious accidents to major disasters. The emergency call center remains at the heart of emergency response, ensuring the safety of the people in the district around the clock.
Precise situation assessment and coordination of measures
In Kreis Kleve, the EmergencyEye® software has been successfully used in the district control center for several years to improve emergency communication. This technology enables the dispatchers to access the situation on site live via the cell phone camera after obtaining the caller’s consent. This allows them to get an accurate picture of the injuries and the situation and respond accordingly.
A practical example of the use of EmergencyEye® is the assessment of injuries: Is it a superficial graze or a serious head injury? This visual assessment makes it possible to provide the right resources, for example to decide whether a rescue helicopter needs to be alerted. In addition, the dispatchers can instruct the first responders on site in life-saving measures such as resuscitation.
By using EmergencyEye®, Kreis Kleve emergency control center has improved its ability to accurately assess emergency situations and quickly initiate the necessary measures, which increases the efficiency of rescue operations and potentially saves lives.
Kreis Kleve is also actively involved in research and development projects, including the SPELL project (semantic platform for intelligent decision-making and deployment support in control centers and civil protection), which was funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. The aim of the project was to develop an open platform that uses artificial intelligence to support decision-making in control centers and civil protection. The district of Kleve contributed its expertise, particularly in the areas of drone integration, computer-aided image and speech analysis and the integration of mobile sensors.
By actively participating in the SPELL project and the innovative use of drone technology, Kreis Kleve is underlining its commitment to modernizing civil protection and optimizing rescue operations.
The SPELL project was successfully completed at the end of 2024.