Regional control center receives around 200 emergency calls per day

"EMERGENCY CALL 112 - Where is the emergency location?" This is how the emergency call handlers at the Jena regional control center respond around 200 times a day when an emergency call is received. On February 11, the European Emergency Call Action Day draws attention to the standardized European emergency number 112. This is valid in all EU member states and ensures that help is provided around the clock in the event of medical emergencies, fires or accidents.

Jena regional control center responsible for around 300,000 residents

In the Saale-Holzland district, the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district and the city of Jena, all emergency calls are received by the Jena regional control center. Together with the local rescue services, fire departments and aid organizations, it ensures the safety of around 300,000 residents in its area of responsibility 24 hours a day and covers an area of 1,938.74 km². This area extends from the Bavarian-Thuringian state border in the south to the state border with Saxony-Anhalt in the north. The Jena regional control center is staffed by eight employees from Monday to Friday and by six employees at weekends and on public holidays, who deal with all requests for assistance. Emergency calls are received at the control center and emergency rescue, ambulance, fire department and disaster control operations are coordinated. In addition, the Jena regional control center is also responsible for dispatching secondary air rescue services for the whole of Thuringia if patients need to be transferred by helicopter.

In addition to emergency calls, numerous other calls are also handled every day

"On average, the control center handles between 200 and 250 calls from the rescue service, fire departments and disaster control every day," reports Mayor and Head of Safety Benjamin Koppe, pointing out that the control center receives many more calls every day for dispatching other operations. "This results in another 250 to 300 phone calls on a wide variety of issues. In addition, there is also radio communication with over 3,000 messages and status information per day," says Koppe.

Up to 20 missed calls per day

There are between 10 and 20 false calls a day, most of which are made unintentionally from cell phones. These so-called "pocket calls" are handled in the same way as all other emergency calls. Malicious false calls are the absolute exception and only occur very rarely. It is also possible to make an emergency call via the NORA emergency call app.

Volunteering as an important pillar

In light of the day of action, Benjamin Koppe emphasizes: "The volunteer members of the volunteer fire departments, civil protection and aid organizations, together with the full-time staff in the rescue service and fire departments, make an indispensable contribution to emergency assistance in the Jena Regional Control Centre area. As a city, we would like to express our deep gratitude to all dedicated rescuers - whether volunteers or full-time staff - for their tireless efforts. Without their active support, rapid and effective assistance in emergencies in our towns and communities would not be guaranteed."

First step in the event of an emergency call

In the event of an emergency call, callers should always state the location of the emergency first. All other information will be requested quickly by the emergency services officers with specific questions so that they can quickly decide on the right rescue equipment and dispatch help.