Emergencies can be both physical and psychological. Both require appropriate care. However, both types of cases can merge into one another: A mentally distressing situation can turn into a medical case and vice versa.
In order to recognise such situations at an early stage, ensure the best possible care and provide comprehensive assistance, safeR pursues an integrated approach and brings together all safety-related issues at the event under one roof.
The core element is a central point of contact for all requests for assistance, which are coordinated by a joint dispatch centre, ensuring a constant internal flow of information between the teams involved and the dispatch centre. Work is organised via the troll system. Access to the respective troll types requires activation following introduction.
The abbreviation ‘’safeR‘’ has a twofold meaning, both of which refer to the tasks of the Operation Centre (OC): On the one hand, it stands for the various aspects of these tasks: ‘’safety, awareness, fire protection, emergency response (and relevant legal issues)‘’. On the other hand, it stands for the goal of making the GPN a ‘’safer space‘’ for participants and trolls.
The aim is not to provide extensive care as at a camp or congress. Depending on staffing levels, the aim is to be on standby 24 hours a day with a continuously staffed dispatch centre.
This document describes the basic concept behind the OC.
Scope of duties
- Ambulance service
- Fire protection
- Awareness
- Removal of barriers to participation
- Advising the PL on safety and relevant legal issues
Running shifts
During the event, the buildings and the event site are regularly inspected by safeR patrols. Our aim is to create a safe space for everyone, to proactively recognise and eliminate dangerous situations and to be approachable for participants at a low threshold. Barriers are also proactively recognised and removed where possible.
As emergencies often require the expertise of several specialist functions, we want to increasingly rely on mixed shifts. This means that a team can, but does not have to, be made up of different specialist functions such as Awareness or Medical.
Recognisability
Trolls from safeR wear a high-visibility jacket during a running shift to make them easier to recognise. This is intended to help participants find help quickly and easily. Outside of running shifts, trolls do not wear waistcoats, especially if support is requested from safeR. This is to ensure confidentiality and avoid unwanted attention.
The colour of the trolls' jackets corresponds to their respective function:
- Red: safeR Medical
- Blue: safeR Technical
- Violet: safeR Awareness
Roles
The team consists of volunteers from various organisations (rescue service, medical profession, THW, fire brigade) and people with an awareness background.
Trolls must be authorised to work for safeR.This activation takes place after an introduction, during which the respective qualification is checked and the activity and limits of action are shown.
safeR Administration
Higher-level management service for all areas of responsibility. Initiating and coordinating safety-relevant measures in consultation with the PL and the houses that affect third parties beyond a certain degree of materiality. The management also supports the teams and the dispatch if necessary.
Dispatch
A joint dispatch desk for all security-related concerns of visitors. All calls to 110, 112, 113 are centralised at the dispatch, which ensures fast, efficient and appropriate support.
Thanks to its central role, the dispatcher should be able to recognise patterns and allocate resources appropriately. As this role has an overview of the overall situation, the teams can concentrate on their respective tasks. In particular, if a situation lasts longer, the dispatcher should inform the trolls involved of this and the possibility of a replacement so that the trolls are not overloaded. The same applies if the situation is potentially very stressful for the trolls. However, the final decision on replacement lies with the trolls themselves.
The Dispatch and the team act confidentially. Information is not passed on to unauthorised persons.
The DECT numbers are stored with reference to the usual function, e.g. safeR (Awareness/CERT). The central number is 112, which can be used to reach all team functions.
Medical
Medical is limited to first aid and immediate life-saving measures. Further treatment is provided by external forces. Medication and anaesthetics are neither administered nor stored.
Technical
Ensuring preventive fire protection and general hazard prevention, such as the removal of tripping hazards.
Awareness
Awareness aims to create a safe and supportive environment in which respect, mindfulness and mutual consideration are promoted. It provides conflict resolution mechanisms and support in situations of personal distress, encourages the breaking down of barriers and supports consensus-based co-operation. Awareness does not involve the provision of therapeutic services, professional assistance or security tasks and does not take on any persecutory or judgemental functions.
Crowd Management
Management and control of crowds in the event area.The aim is to prevent overcrowding or panic reactions and to ensure that events run smoothly.This includes the organisation of walkways, the use of barriers and communication with the crowd through signage or announcements.
Handover to the outside world
If an individual situation or the overall situation exceeds the competencies or capacities of the safeR structure, this is handed over to public authorities and organisations with security tasks. This applies in particular to emergency medical care and fire protection. The police will not be informed without the consent of affected persons.Awareness trolls will assist people seeking help in these cases on request.
Confidentiality
All deployed personnel are bound to confidentiality. As a rule, information is only passed on within the OC between the team(s) involved and the dispatch. If information is passed on, it will be limited to what is absolutely necessary.
Advance information on pre-existing conditions or special (treatment) needs
Before the event, we will offer participants the opportunity to inform safeR about existing pre-existing conditions or special (treatment) needs.
The information will be recorded on (analogue) register cards, which will be destroyed on request or at the latest after the end of the event.
FAQ
Q: Will forces from the police/intelligence service/... will be working at safeR?
No. The trolls for the medical and technical functions come from the emergency services, medical profession, THW and fire brigade. The trolls for the Awareness function are people with an awareness background. All troll types involved require an introduction and activation.
Q: How long does an event exclusion from past GPNs last?
Unless otherwise communicated, an event exclusion is indefinite.