At the beginning of 2017, the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) acquired a licence for a smartphone app for water sports enthusiasts that was originally developed by the Irish Coast Guard. Almost all national sea rescue services in Europe now use Safe TRX - "Safe tracks" stands for "safe routes". The app offers water sports enthusiasts the opportunity to guide sea rescuers directly to their position at the touch of a button - provided they are within mobile phone coverage.
Safe TRX - three basic functions
After downloading the app, you register once and free of charge. The app (to be found at GooglePlay and in the AppStore ) itself is kept simple and offers three basic functions: In the"Route plan mode" you can leave your smartphone on the beach and enter a time of day when you want to be back. If you don't turn up on time, the app automatically sends a text message 15 minutes later to all previously stored emergency contacts - in this case, of course, nobody knows exactly where you are at the time.
The mode appears to be more practical for wingfoilers"Record only"The app records the position of the windsurfer at predetermined intervals (it is advisable to set a continuous tracking interval). If the foiler can no longer make an emergency call himself, for example due to an injury, the sea rescuers can track the route of the rider after being alerted by a third party and in this way massively restrict the search area.
With the third and most important function"Call for help" water sports enthusiasts can make an emergency call themselves. At the touch of a button, the app immediately connects you by phone to the DGzRS rescue coordination centre in Bremen and automatically sends the exact GPS coordinates - so help can be dispatched quickly and precisely. Anyone who needs to request help at a location abroad will also receive it - provided they have not switched off mobile data in their smartphone settings. In an emergency, you are then automatically forwarded to the national rescue centre of the country in question, many of which also use Safe TRX.
The app's only small drawback: if the smartphone's battery status falls below ten per cent, the app sends a message in"Record only" sends an emergency text message to the stored contacts - even if there is no emergency situation. A reasonably charged battery is therefore recommended for this function. Alternatively, if the battery is running low, you can also dispense with recording the positions and only send a text message yourself in an emergency."Call for help" set down.
Conclusion:
The free Safe TRX app is highly recommended and every water sports enthusiast travelling along the coast should have it on their smartphone! Completely free of charge, it connects you directly with the sea rescuers in an emergency, whose control centre is manned around the clock.
