KATRETTER 1.3.0

The KATRETTER system functions as an alert mechanism to mobilize volunteer responders during emergencies and crises in the immediate vicinity. It aims to optimize emergency response by enabling rapid, location-specific, and legally compliant communication with volunteers through a mobile application.

In critical situations such as cardiac arrest as well as other emergency scenarios, dispatch centers utilize the app to notify nearby volunteers. Depending on their registered qualifications, these volunteers—classified as "First Responders" or "Helpers"—can commence life-saving interventions before professional emergency services arrive or support operations through simpler tasks. The assignment of volunteers is conducted anonymously and based on their verified credentials, ensuring appropriate deployment.

Different types of incidents require varying levels of volunteer involvement:

• First Responders: These individuals possess medical training or are actively engaged in emergency services. They are equipped to initiate vital procedures such as basic life support immediately. Registration as a First Responder is mandatory but provided free of charge.
• Helpers: Volunteers without specific medical qualifications contribute through basic support activities, such as filling sandbags during floods or providing initial comfort to distressed individuals in crisis situations. The use of the KATRETTER system by Helpers is also available at no cost and without qualification requirements.

KATRETTER represents a collaboration between the Berlin Fire Brigade, the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems (FOKUS), and the non-profit organization CombiRisk GmbH, aiming to enhance community resilience through coordinated volunteer engagement in emergencies.