On the move into the new Millennium, German Red Cross will be providing new uniforms to all of their voluntary rescue workers. Reflexite has been chosen as a supplier of reflective components for these new garments which will be distributed to 400,000-500,000 Red Cross representatives throughout Germany over the next 6 years.

The new style for the German Red Cross has been designed to enhance safety as well as the corporate style of the rescue force. It will now be easy and fast to recognize the Red Cross representatives in a rescue scene. Colours of the fabric have been specified to a vivid red, a more discrete grey, lined with bright white reflective materials - the DRK-Einsatzanzug 2000. The garment design has been done with specific attention to detail, and it has been created in close co-operation between the Red Cross and one of the leading German safety garment producers in the rescue garment field; Geilenkothen GmbH. The garments will be manufactured by selected German garment manufacturers over the upcoming years.

The Red Cross was focusing on two requirements in their choice of reflective materials: The tape had to be certified to the highest safety standard in Europe (EN471, class 2) as well as have a bright white daytime appearance, in order to fulfil their new design requirements. In addition, the jackets have a large round reflective badge on the back, with reflectivity also certified according to EN471 class 1. The badge has been printed with a translucent ink, which makes the large red cross reflect in red, and hence bringing out the corporate identification of the work force for a quick and essential idenfication of the Red Cross personnel in the rescue zones. Key Account Manager Bernd Kreitz explains,: "Reflexite stands for high quality and high visibility and our materials work in the toughest environments. So we are very proud to supply the German Red Cross." The German Red Cross is one of the major Red Cross forces in Europe. They are today found in almost every German town, ready to help in case of major accidents, flooding and general catastrophe zones. In more peaceful areas, the Red Cross is also a familiar sight at larger sports events.

January 2000