DLRG uses new sonar device Aqua Eye” in Lake Einfelder!

DLRG uses new sonar device Aqua Eye” in Lake Einfelder!

In Lake Einfelder, the German Life Saving Society (DLRG) Neumünster has opened a new chapter in the search for missing people. With the innovative “Aqua Eye” sonar device, rescue workers can now search for people underwater more quickly and efficiently. This handheld sonar weighs less than 2 kilograms and has an impressive range of up to 50 meters, both in depth and width. This is particularly important because the lake measures almost 10 meters at its deepest point and visibility is often only between 15 and 20 centimeters, even on the best of days, as NDR reports.

In recent years, the DLRG has unfortunately had the bitter experience of having to complain about one death every year, including tragic incidents involving children and young people. This makes the new use of the sonar device all the more important, as it increases the probability of finding missing people alive by 15 to 20 percent. During the current rescue exercise, lifeguard Malte Ermer successfully found a missing man. The “Aqua Eye”, which works with sound waves and artificial intelligence, was used to recognize human bodies and then display an “O” when something is found.

Improved water rescue equipment

The purchase costs of the device amount to 8,500 euros, of which the DLRG received 11,000 euros in funding from the state. In addition to the sonar device, the DLRG has also invested in new flow rescue suits, dry suits and better-equipped lifeboats. In the event of an emergency, several boats, including an inflatable rapid response boat, are ready to respond immediately. This technical upgrade of the water rescue unit, which has been active for a year, is particularly important in an area like Lake Einfelder, where the search is often emotionally stressful, both for the relatives and for the rescuers Kn-online reported.

The DLRG Neumünster is also looking for volunteers who would like to help with swimming supervision at Lake Einfelder. The minimum age is 16 years and the requirements are the German Lifeguard Badge (DRSA) in silver and a current first aid course. If you are interested, you can contact Fabian Pohl directly by email.

Use in difficult conditions

The challenges when searching for people are often enormous. In these critical moments, relatives show their desperate hope, which puts a lot of emotional strain on even experienced rescuers. The pain of the bereaved becomes particularly clear when it comes to the difficult moments when they have to identify drowned people. The conditions are stressful, especially when it is cold and visibility is poor, and the search can drag on unnecessarily, which increases the emotional pressure, as noted in an article on Wangen im Allgäu.

The DLRG is continuously working to optimize its operations and has recognized that technological progress in rescue technology is of crucial importance. By combining modern sonar technology with artificial intelligence, the survival rate during operations in the water is significantly increased.

With these advances in water rescue, the DLRG hopes to make its operations not only more efficient, but also more humane - a good example of how technology can help people.