Water Rescue in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania started officially into the swimming season 2018. As first coastal area the region is using drones with Restube, which highly increases the safety of swimmers and water sportsmen. The flying object does not replace a lifeguard but the time until the person in water receives flotation can be reduced radically. Once the Restube-buoy is dropped, it inflates automatically with water contact so that the rescued person can hold on until a lifeguard arrives.
The lifeguards of the German Red Cross Division operate in total 18 with Restube equipped drones at 14 beach sections at the Baltic Sea as well as on four inland lakes.
After German Red Cross regional president Werner Kuhn and mayor of the city Zingst Andreas Kuhn have officially opened the swimming season, the drones were handed over to the local seaside stations. Several representatives of the Red Cross regional division and members of the local institutions were present and got an introduction in the functionalities of the drones, as well as the legal framework. The functions of the Restube-bouy was explained in detail by technician and instructor Thomas Wodrig.
A simulated rescue situation followed, from distress call to drone flight and dropping of the Restube buoy until bringing the person to shore by a lifeguard.
At the same time a second group of drone pilots were trained. Already in 2017 the drone proved itself as extremely important and lifesaving helper. Near the sea resort Heringsdorf a missing person in water was found and successfully rescued with a drone.
In the whole the mood at project start was very positive. With the involved Red Cross staff as well as with the spectators attending the event.
The product and idea of the company RESTUBE excites also Clemens Menge of the German Lifeguard Association in Constance: „Innovation for rescue should be driven forward. I am convinced that it will make our waters even safer in future.“ The German Lifeguard Association in Constance tested the dropping system of the drone together with RESTUBE in May at the International Lake Constance Week with the result: Also at the seaside center Hörnle in Constance the drone will be operated the whole swimming season 2018.
