Be a hero for a moment

Be a hero for a moment

convivo at the Interschutz trade fair in Hanover—the world’s leading trade fair for firefighting, rescue services, and civil protection

“Please run up the stairs quickly. But don’t take two steps at a time!” The instructions for our simulated rescue operation. Safety first—even when saving lives.

At the Interschutz trade show in Hanover, we get to experience what it feels like to rescue an unconscious person from a hazardous area. Daniel and Thomas enter the competition. A few minutes later, they’re both out of breath.

We’re not usually this hands-on. We develop software.

For many years, we have been working with MSA the safety company to develop digital solutions for fire departments and emergency responders. At the trade show, it becomes particularly clear just how closely equipment and software work together today. Modern protective gear no longer merely provides protection; it also facilitates communication.

Respiratory protection devices provide information on air pressure, movement, and alarms. LUNAR devices assist with location, search, and rescue operations. Incident commanders can use tablets to see in real time where emergency responders are located, which device they are assigned to, or whether an emergency has occurred.

In the background, data is being consolidated. Software collects, processes, and visualizes information. This enables emergency responders to make decisions faster when every second counts. It is precisely this combination of hardware, software, and connectivity that we see throughout the trade show.

And, of course, AI.

At Interschutz, it is one of the major topics of the future: from the digitization of emergency response to support in complex crisis scenarios.

Amid all the technical discussions, there’s still time to try things out. Stefan, our tester, is completely in his element. He’s testing the new Gallet F1 firefighter helmet from MSA, operating a remote-controlled demolition robot, marveling at huge airport fire trucks, and watching a firefighting robot in action.

In short: In some ways, it feels like an amusement park for tech-savvy adults.

What did we take away from the trade show? Above all, a reminder of why we develop software. In our day-to-day work, we deal with requirements, tickets, tests, and releases. At Interschutz, we see the other side: the people who use these systems.

People who fight fires, save lives, and have to rely on technology.

It really brings home what we work on every day: complex software solutions that can help save lives when it counts most.