When every second counts
It’s a hot summer’s day. Children laugh on the lakeshore, boats glide across the water, people enjoy the sunshine. Suddenly, the atmosphere changes: a swimmer gets into trouble. At first barely noticeable, then thrashing in panic—movements that grow weaker and weaker. A cry—and then silence.
Anyone who has witnessed such a situation knows: drowning happens quietly and faster than one might think. Within just a short time without oxygen, irreversible damage or even death threatens. And precisely in this critical window, something is now possible that wasn’t before: immediate aid from the air.
Innovation in air rescue
DRF Luftrettung, one of Europe’s largest air rescue organizations, has equipped its 31 bases in Germany with a new technology: the RESTUBE AUTOMATIC 75.
From now on, it is part of the standard equipment on all helicopters and can be deployed during water rescue missions directly from the cockpit into the water. Once released, it unfolds automatically and provides immediate buoyancy to the person in distress.
For people in life-threatening situations, this means: winning precious minutes until specialized water rescue forces arrive.
How does RESTUBE AUTOMATIC 75 work?
The technology behind it is simple—and that’s exactly what makes it so reliable:
- Compact and handy: AUTOMATIC 75 takes up hardly any space in the helicopter.
- Instantly deployable: A single movement is enough to throw it directly out of the door.
- Automatic activation: Upon contact with the water surface, the integrated CO₂ cartridge is triggered. AUTOMATIC 75 inflates within seconds.
- Immediate benefit: The person in distress can hold on and stay afloat until rescue is completed.
“The buoy is small, easy to use, and in an emergency, it can make the decisive difference,” emphasizes Udo Laux, Fleet Manager East Region at DRF Luftrettung.
What this changes
Until now, helicopter crews without a rescue hoist could only observe drowning emergencies and coordinate ground or water rescue teams. With RESTUBE AUTOMATIC 75, that changes:
- Direct intervention instead of passive observation.
- Rapid assistance even in hard-to-reach areas such as lakes, rivers, or coastal regions.
- Higher survival chances for people who might not have held out without this immediate aid.
The AUTOMATIC 75 is more than just another tool—it is a crucial addition to the air rescue concept.
A milestone for water rescue in Germany
With the introduction of RESTUBE AUTOMATIC 75, DRF Luftrettung sends a strong message: rescue chains must be strengthened exactly where gaps have existed until now.
The fact that all 31 bases in Germany were equipped with the AUTOMATIC 75 at the same time underlines the great importance of this innovation. For us at RESTUBE, it is a special honor that our technology is now part of one of Europe’s most advanced air rescue organizations.
Our shared goal: saving even more lives.
Together for more safety in the water
The partnership with DRF Luftrettung is more than just another area of application for RESTUBE. It is proof that a simple idea—a small, portable flotation system for emergencies—can become a solution that convinces rescue organizations across the country.
Whether for recreational athletes, lifeguards, or now also helicopter crews—RESTUBE shows how compact technology can make all the difference in seconds.
Learn more about the work of DRF Luftrettung: www.drf-luftrettung.de
Discover the RESTUBE AUTOMATIC 75 here
