Mercedes-Benz aids emergency responders with QR codes

In future, a QR code - readable by smartphones and tablets placed on Mercedes-Benz cars - will provide a rescue map for every vehicle type, which can be shown on the device's display. This chart contains all the information necessary to rescue any injured occupants speedily.

This Mercedes-Benz innovation makes use of rescue sheets developed by the ADAC, the German Automobile Association, and are already provided by all automakers for every one of their vehicle models.

The sheets show firefighters, police and paramedics the design details they need to know in order to use the rescue equipment effectively.

The rescue sheet, specific for each vehicle type, also informs the location of the airbags, battery, tanks, electric cables, high-pressure cylinders and other components.

And in the case of hybrid models the location of the additional batteries and high voltage cables, too. With access to this information Mercedes-Benz expects emergency responders can save lives faster.

All automakers can continue to update their own rescue sheet links themselves and thus use the QR system to advantage, because Mercedes-Benz has waived the right to a patent registration in order to make the system available to everyone. As from this year, all new vehicles from Mercedes-Benz will be provided with two stickers with a so-called QR code. Thanks to an app, QR codes can be read by every smartphone and every tablet equipped with a camera.

At this point, it is unclear if this feature is specific only to the German market or available globally.