An accident, an emergency – and suddenly quick action is required. If you know what to do then, you can save lives at the crucial moment. Many adults know the emergency number 112, but what exactly happens after you call it? And what should children know in order to react correctly in an emergency? We spoke about this with company doctor Andreas Schneider from Mercedes-Benz. He provides insights into the processes behind the scenes and shows how important good preparation and clear communication are in an emergency.
MobileKids: What exactly happens after someone dials 112?
Andreas Schneider: The call ends up at a so-called integrated control centre, usually at district level. Specially trained dispatchers answer the emergency call there. They trained as a firefighter or paramedic and decide immediately which life-saving resources are needed. For example, an ambulance or an emergency doctor. At the same time, they give important instructions over the phone or even initiate resuscitation measures if necessary.
MobileKids: Do the dispatchers stay in contact after the call?
Andreas Schneider: Yes, if it is necessary. The contact can be maintained until the emergency team arrives on site. Communication is a central component of the rescue chain. This ensures that help is coordinated in the best possible way – from the emergency call to registration at hospital.
At Mercedes-Benz, the in-house rescue service has an almost identical structure to the public rescue service – only faster. The plant has its own particularly short response time. The rescue chain is supported by a plant fire brigade, our own rescue services and trained first aiders in all areas. Regular further training ensures the high standard. The close cooperation with the public rescue service and the provision of additional resources – for example a second ambulance for parallel missions – has proved particularly successful.
MobileKids: What role does time play in this?
Andreas Schneider: A major one. In Baden-Württemberg, the law stipulates that the emergency services must arrive at the scene as quickly as possible. The aim is to have an initial rescue resource, such as an ambulance, on site within twelve minutes of receiving an emergency call in 95 per cent of cases. Every minute counts. That is why it is so important that all processes are clearly regulated and function well.
MobileKids: Do such time limits also exist in other countries?
Andreas Schneider: Yes, there are also international aid time frames, i.e. target specifications, for how quickly help should arrive at the scene of an emergency. However, these differ greatly: In the UK, for example, emergency services are supposed to be on the scene of life-threatening emergencies within seven minutes. In Austria, the target is usually 15 minutes; in many US cities, the so-called eight-minute rule applies. How strictly these requirements are monitored depends on the respective country and its organisation of rescue services.
MobileKids: What happens when children make an emergency call? Are there often misunderstandings?
Andreas Schneider: On the contrary, Children often do this really well. They are questioned very specifically and the dispatchers respond to them with particular empathy. So, there are no typical misunderstandings that could be generalised.
MobileKids: What should parents or teachers teach children when it comes to making an emergency call?
Andreas Schneider: The most important thing is: Do not leave the injured or ill person alone. At the same time, however, children must not put themselves in danger. If there are several people on site, a clear distribution of roles can help. Children should also know that they may get help at any time. And that it is better to call the emergency services once too often than not at all.
MobileKids: Is the rescue chain in other countries organised in a similar way to ours?
Andreas Schneider: The basic principle is comparable worldwide. The process from the emergency call to medical aid basically follows a similar pattern.
MobileKids: So where are the differences in an international comparison?
Andreas Schneider: There are differences in the organisation, accessibility and equipment of the rescue services. While 112 applies in Germany, some countries also have their own emergency numbers – but 112 can be dialled almost anywhere in the world. The issue of whether rescue services are organised by the state, privately or on a voluntary basis is also not the same everywhere. In addition, there are major differences in the medical infrastructure, especially in rural regions or in developing countries. It therefore makes sense for parents to talk to children on holiday or when travelling about how to get help in an emergency and which number to dial in the respective country.
Andreas Schneider is a company doctor at Mercedes-Benz and is responsible for the rescue service at the Sindelfingen plant. He looks after employees in all medical matters and carries out occupational health checks. Following his specialist training in anaesthesiology, he completed a second specialist medical training in occupational medicine at Mercedes-Benz.
In addition to his work at the plant, Andreas Schneider is head emergency doctor in the Böblingen district, medical officer in charge of the rescue service at the Böblingen district association of the German Red Cross and active emergency doctor at several locations in Baden-Württemberg. His passion for emergency medicine developed during his training in anaesthesiology. His enthusiasm for Mercedes-Benz has been with him since childhood – influenced by his father, who worked there as an engineer.