One in two people in Germany would choose not to provide any first aid, because they do not feel confident about doing it.
With heart and mind.
Event expert Hinnerk Femerling is committed to the #10000LebenRetten (saving life) initiative to improve these figures. Alongside project founders Teva, ratiopharm and the Johanniter-Unfall‑Hilfe, he wants to turn more people into active first aiders. The project is bringing resuscitation training into the 21st century: The 10‑minute courses are provided digitally and on the move in the TrainingsTruck. The Actros roves around the country with its fully‑equipped box body. “Provided as a short training course, we can now offer resuscitation training anywhere,” says Femerling.
“We were in effect carrying out the groundwork.”
How long has the #10000LebenRetten initiative been on the road?
Hinnerk Femerling: Last year, we travelled from June to October, and depending on the booking situation, we set up on public spaces, at companies, at schools, and at major events such as trade fairs and folk festivals. Then came the winter break and now we are starting our 2022 season here at the Kieler Woche festival.
What role does the truck play in how your project is perceived and implemented?
It means that we can be both extremely flexible and incredibly fast: 20 to 30 minutes from parking up to getting started. This would not be possible with any other kind of infrastructure.
30
maximum setting‑up time in minutes.
What was the work like behind the concept and its implementation?
We were a small team, but nevertheless very diverse: In addition to architects and event professionals we also had game developers and first aid experts from the Johanniter ambulance service. This all culminated in a new digital education project. We were in effect carrying out the groundwork.
Your company Esquina is a veteran at Truck events. What was new for you here?
It represents the first campaign in which game development was used for this area of adult education. The fact that an avatar spoke to the participants and gave them instructions instead of a real person was also new to us and has not yet found broad use.
Why did you choose an Actros from Mercedes‑Benz for this purpose?
As a tractor vehicle, the semitrailer tractor needs to be more‑or‑less 100% reliable. It doesn’t just need to look good, it must also be safe. Having to stop somewhere halfway and deal with the technology one’s self would put the entire project at risk. Transfer windows are kept to a minimum. Only an elite class truck makes sense, and this is exactly what we have here.
Photos: Sebastian Vollmert