North Rhine-Westphalia: NRW fire brigade gets help app for operations

So far, fire brigades often work with maps made of paper.

North Rhine-Westphalia: NRW fire brigade gets help app for operations

So far, fire brigades often work with maps made of paper. When it comes to car accidents, emergency services rely on their experience - which is often lacking in electric cars. Soon the rescuers will get an app that will make things a lot easier.

Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - The fire brigades in NRW are to be equipped with a new app to help them with their operations. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the app should provide information about the structure of crashed cars and contain up-to-date maps. The app is scheduled to go into trial operation next year.

On site, for example, firefighters should be able to enter the license plate number of a car that has been involved in an accident, whereupon they get the vehicle type and its construction data. For example, hydraulic tools could be used in a more targeted manner to cut open a car. The app should also cover e-cars.

"The application site app helps firefighters with their dangerous work and makes operations safer," said the Ministry of the Interior. The application will run on tablets and smartphones.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the app is a free offer from the state to all fire brigades and is used on a voluntary basis. The association of fire brigades in North Rhine-Westphalia and the state institute for fire brigades are among those involved in the project.