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Silt sleds for the rescue: DLRG starts new mudflat deployment strategy
DLRG is testing new mud sleds for mudflat rescue in the Jade Bay in order to help quickly and efficiently in emergencies.
Silt sleds for the rescue: DLRG starts new mudflat deployment strategy
An innovative mud sled is currently being tested in Friesland, which is intended to help the DLRG rescue workers provide quick and efficient assistance to mudflat hikers in need. How n-tv reports, the sleigh is the result of hard development work by the DLRG local group in Varel and was designed specifically for the treacherous conditions in the Jade Bay.
Our mud flats are known for their dangerous, muddy places where things can quickly become crowded for people. They often sink up to their chests in the mud. The new mud sled, made from a robust mix of fiberglass and carbon, measures an impressive 2.5 meters in length and is wider than its predecessors. It has been equipped with folding tires to make it easier to access the beach.
Fast and effective rescue
The DLRG not only paid attention to efficiency in the design of the mud sled, but also in the training of its members. There are over 100,000 DLRG members in Lower Saxony, and the organization is increasingly concerned about the condition of many swimming pools. It is therefore important that rescue skills are continuously trained. Information about the rescue swimming courses can be found on the DLRG website, where content such as towing and transporting people in the water and resuscitation are also taught DLRG Cologne-West.
As part of the project in Friesland, the ideas for the new mud sled were developed after a difficult rescue case in 2018, using traditional fishing means of transport as inspiration. In collaboration with a model and metal construction company, we managed to create sledges that were not only stable but also quick to use. The cost of one of these sledges is around 8,000 euros, and fortunately part of this sum was financed through donations and support from the Friesland district NDR.
A look into the future
There are currently five of these mud sledges in the Friesland district, including in Schillig. They are regularly practiced in operational scenarios so that they are ready in an emergency. To date, however, the mud sled has not yet been used for real human rescue. However, interest in this rescue technology is not only evident in Friesland, but also in other places on the North Sea coast.
The DLRG relies on modern aids such as the mud sled to increase safety on the mudflats. With the latest developments and the know-how of their members, they are ideally positioned to act quickly in emergencies and ensure that mudflat hikers can be safely rescued from dangerous situations. It remains to be seen how this rescue technology will become established and what successes will be achieved in practice.