Imagine taking a long walk along hiking trails or the beach towards Hoge Hörn, the outermost tip of East Frisia's largest island. While the nature becomes increasingly impressive and untouched, you move further and further away from the island's core, and in fact, only the Leuchtturm to be seen, stretching its neck toward the sky kilometers away. What sounds romantic, relaxing, and beautiful here can easily end with unexpected problems.
The walker takes the wrong step, injures himself and is unable to return, is stung by an insect to which he is allergic, or his companion suddenly suffers a heart attack. "No problem," some might think, "I have a mobile phone and can call for help very quickly." But wait! Where is the walker supposed to guide the helpers and where exactly is he, since the only landmark is the distant Leuchtturm, and even the identical-looking dunes don't help with directions. Calling for help is also usually pointless on a North Sea island that is two-thirds uninhabited. An incoming emergency call therefore poses a major challenge for rescuers, as the accident site is difficult to locate outside the town center. But in such an emergency situation, every second counts, and even the slightest delay could, in the worst case, mean death.
To prevent such incidents from happening in the first place, the BorkumFoundation, the so-called Emergency Orientation System (NOS) on the island. SOS signs with different numbers have been placed at prominent waypoints on walking and cycling paths, on the beach and in the dunes, as well as on park benches. Emergency victims can use these numbers to inform rescuers on their mobile phone where they are, and they can guide emergency doctors, ambulances, or helicopters to them as quickly and directly as possible. Emergency services, the German Red Cross, police stations, and the fire department rely on the new system to define search areas or locate dune fires. NOS complements and optimizes the existing rescue system on Borkum and ensures even greater safety for guests and BorkumThey can now walk, cycle, or jog to the most remote spots on the island without safety concerns. Because – should anything happen – rescuers can be on site quickly thanks to NOS.
