Everyone can protect themselves or contribute to the protection of fellow citizens if they are aware of suitable measures.
This applies especially as a precautionary measure, for the time until the security forces arrive, but also during the operation until the all-clear is given.
We have compiled some information for you here and linked interesting links so that you can get the best possible information.
According to §1 of the NRW Disaster Protection Act, the local authorities are responsible, among other things, for warning the population in the event of disasters and major emergencies. The Aachen population can be warned in three ways:
The city of Aachen has an extensive network of over 50 functioning sirens. Since 2019, this system has been used exclusively to warn the population in the event of an emergency. Previously, the system was also used to alert the volunteer fire department in the city. However, this now runs exclusively via alternative "silent alerting systems" (so-called pagers). The siren warning signal is still the most proven and safest method of alerting the citizens of Aachen in the event of a major emergency. The fire department has several loudspeaker vehicles which, if necessary, drive to the affected districts according to predefined routes and warn the population via announcements. A gradual expansion of the siren network is also planned in the coming years, so that coverage will continue to increase.
Sirens warn of danger. This means that an incident has occurred. Please switch on the radio. In the event of a warning, the siren will wail up and down.
The danger is over. A continuous tone sounds for one minute.
The warning announcement on the radio offers the advantage that the population can be informed in detail as far as possible. After the siren signal, you should switch on WDR2 on 100.8 MHz. Depending on the incident, you will receive information from the fire department and police on the correct behavior. For your own safety, always follow the instructions of the safety authorities.
The population directly at risk from the incident is also warned and informed by the fire department's loudspeaker vehicles.
Regular siren tests have been carried out in the city of Aachen since October 2010 so that you can distinguish and correctly interpret the various signals. The city of Aachen also takes part in the NRW and nationwide warning days.
The federal government has bundled a lot of information on www.bundesweiter-warntag.de.
In Aachen, the signals for warning and all-clear are played specifically for the population, in the order all-clear - warning - all-clear.
The alarm rehearsal begins with the all-clear signal, which announces the alarm rehearsal. This is followed by the actual warning signal. The test alarm ends again with the all-clear signal.
In the event of a fire, traffic accident or many other emergencies, the fire department is on hand and can provide assistance quickly and with trained personnel.
However, there are situations in which even the fire department reaches the limits of its capacity. In such catastrophic situations, for example, a storm can result in so many emergency calls being received in a very short space of time that the fire department is no longer able to deal with all of them at the same time. Widespread power outages can also bring normal life as we know it to a standstill.
In such scenarios, it is advisable for everyone to take precautions within their means and to be able to help themselves.
This can range, for example, from simply stocking up on drinking water and food to providing first aid in the neighborhood. The past has shown that the potential for self-help among the population is particularly high in the event of major damage situations, such as the 2013 floods in parts of Germany.
The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) has provided extensive information on the Internet so that you can prepare and inform yourself in advance. It also provides a checklist that you can use to review and supplement your own preparations.
To the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance
The figures are alarming
Too many people are still dying in fires in Germany. It should be noted that 95 percent of fire fatalities suffocate from the smoke fumes and do not fall victim to the flames. Despite years of educational work by the fire departments, the statistical figures are alarming. In Germany, 400 to 500 people die in around 200,000 fires every year, around 5,000 are seriously injured and 50,000 are slightly injured. Around 10 percent of fire victims are children.
Unfortunately, many people are under the misconception that fire and fire smoke will wake them up early enough, that they spread slowly and that they have enough time to get to safety. However, if the statistical figures are taken as a basis, the following picture unfortunately emerges. Two thirds of fires occur during the day, one third at night. In contrast, the number of fire fatalities is exactly the opposite! Two thirds of victims are killed at night, while one third are killed during the day.
Acute danger to life
In the event of a fire, every second really does count. Especially at night, when sensory organs such as the sense of smell are not active, there is an acute danger to life from smoke inhalation in a very short time, even in the event of a small fire. Only those who install smoke alarms will be made aware of this smoke and can be woken up in time to get themselves and others to safety.
So that you can be helped quickly and effectively, it is important that you give your details in the correct form when calling the emergency services. If you call the fire department (112) or the police (110) to report an incident, please state:
Do not block any telephone lines! The fire department, police and affected companies need every telephone line to initiate assistance and rescue measures. Therefore, only call in an emergency. You can request ambulance services by calling 19222.
The right order
Preventive measures include thinking about hazardous situations in advance.
This will enable you to react calmly, quickly and safely if an incident occurs.
We therefore recommend that you take the precaution of asking yourself the most important questions in all places where you regularly spend time.
Where are the escape routes and the assembly point? Where do I set off the fire alarm or house alarm or can I make a phone call? Is there a fire extinguisher? Where is my escape route?
If a fire breaks out, keep calm and contact the fire department immediately! This means calling 112 and answering all questions as accurately as possible.
The following two questions will come up first.
Wait for possible queries on the phone and stay on the line until you are told otherwise.
Saving lives has the highest priority! Draw attention to the fire loudly to warn other people.
The greatest danger in a fire comes from smoke and not from the flames. Therefore, always close doors to contain the spread of smoke and keep escape routes free of smoke. If your escape route is blocked, shield yourself from the smoke as much as possible and wait for the fire department to help.
Keep calm! Go to a safe area, close the doors and seal them if necessary, make yourself noticed at an open window or call 112 to give the exact location. Do not put yourself in danger at any time. As soon as the fire department has been notified, help is on its way!
Basically, you can always first consider whether you can help yourself or whether the help of acquaintances, neighbors, colleagues or family members will suffice. You can also call a cab to get to the doctor or hospital.
The emergency number 112 should be used if you are unable to assess the severity of the injuries yourself, if one of the following symptoms occurs or if there is any other acute danger to life (shortness of breath, chest pain, loss of blood, unconsciousness, seizures, etc.). If you are not sure, you are also welcome to call 116117, describe the situation and they will help you make a good decision.
Such assignments keep our helpers busy in case help is urgently needed elsewhere at the same time.
An offer from the fire departments in the district and city of Aachen for fire safety education for children and young people. We offer a tried-and-tested fire safety concept that consists of three modules and is adapted to the respective development phase of the children and young people.
