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The Kortal Race Mips is not only chic, but also has a range of safety features. Sturdy aramid bridges and MISP are designed to provide the best possible protection for the head. The Recco reflector is designed to help find lost bikers in mountainous regions. The latest feature of the helmet from Sweden is a small chip designed to provide the rescue service with important information and thus speed up treatment: the NFC Medical ID.
Time is Brain!
Unlike Angi from Specialised or Tocsen the NFC chip does not recognise a fall and call for help on its own, but is designed to speed up initial treatment. Allergies, intolerances, personal data and emergency contacts can be entered via App directly in the helmet chip. If the casualty is unconscious, the emergency services scan the helmet and receive the most important data directly on their smartphone. So much for the theory. In the case of head injuries and unconsciousness, every second counts, because "time is brain". The longer the brain is not supplied with oxygen, the more likely it is that serious consequential damage will occur.
The NFC chip is still brand new in Germany. However, like Recco, it is set to become the standard, so that rescue services and mountain rescue teams will immediately know that the helmet contains important information when they see the NFC symbol. But are the rescue services and mountain rescue teams actually using this new technology? We asked them.
Interview with Roland Ampenberger (Press spokesman, Bergwacht Bayern)
BIKE: Are you familiar with the NFC Medical ID that POC has installed in its latest helmets?
Roland Ampenberger: This chip is new to me, but it sounds like a useful add-on if personal details cannot be recorded during casualty care. Similar to Recco, which is used for buried victims, these technical gadgets can save time and therefore save lives. However, it usually takes several years for such gadgets to become established.
BIKE: Are the mountain rescue teams trained in using this new technology?
Our emergency services usually don't have the time to spend on reading a helmet. Often every minute counts. Because: time is brain! What's more, the emergency services need a smartphone with the right app. But with so many apps and gadgets, this is unrealistic. Technologies such as the Recco reflector have been established over decades and have only been in widespread use for a few years. It remains to be seen when and if medical ID will become established at all.
BIKE: Wouldn't such a chip speed up treatment by recognising possible drug intolerances more quickly?
Roland Ampenberger: Of course, this can be very helpful information. However, the decisive factor for the doctor is the clear classification and relevance with regard to the current emergency situation. If in doubt, the doctor will carry out their own tests.
