RIGLOO in police service – protection on the hard shoulder

Every year, tragic incidents occur on European highways on the hard shoulder. People get out of their vehicles after breakdowns or accidents, as recommended – but in rain, cold, or snow, there is often no suitable place to take shelter. RIGLOO offers an effective emergency measure: a mobile, quick-to-assemble protective tent that shields those affected from wind, wet, hypothermia, and prying eyes.

With RIGLOO, the police can keep accident victims or witnesses safe and protected until further help arrives. This not only increases physical safety, but also reduces the burden on officers and those involved. In times of growing sensitivity to human dignity and media presence, this is an active contribution to protecting those affected.

RIGLOO in emergency services – hypothermia prevention in pre-hospital care

In the pre-hospital phase – i.e., the time between initial treatment and transport to the hospital – the risk of hypothermia is particularly high. Many patients arrive at emergency rooms already hypothermic, even though the injury itself was not life-threatening. This is caused by long rescue times, wet clothing, cold ambient temperatures, or the administration of cool infusions.

RIGLOO offers crucial protection here. It creates a mobile, weatherproof care zone for emergency doctors and paramedics, in which:

• Patients are insulated from the cold and wind,
• Medical procedures can be carried out in a visibly shielded manner,
• the risk of pre-hospital hypothermia is effectively reduced.
  
  

RIGLOO can also be used for triage in major emergencies, for providing initial care to the slightly and seriously injured, and for caring for the dying in a protected environment.

RIGLOO in disaster and civil protection – flexible, fast, necessary

Every minute counts during floods, storms, earthquakes, or landslides. In these chaotic situations, there are usually no suitable buildings or stable infrastructure. Rescue workers have to operate under the most difficult conditions – often for hours on end. RIGLOO was developed in close cooperation with civil defense and disaster control services and offers a direct response to these requirements.

The protective tent is:

• easy to transport,
• ready for use in seconds,
• robust against wind and weather,
• flexible for use as a triage area, emergency room, or temporary accommodation.
  
  

For those affected, this means protection, privacy, and psychological stabilization in an extreme situation. For helpers, it means professional standards even under emergency conditions – and at a fraction of the cost of conventional equipment.

RIGLOO in firefighting operations – providing safe care, working in safety

Firefighters are increasingly faced with the challenge of rescuing, caring for, and protecting people at the same time during fires, accidents, or chemical incidents – often in full view of the public. RIGLOO creates a protected environment that benefits both victims and emergency personnel.

It is used to:

• Shielding injured persons from onlookers
• Weather protection during technical rescue
• Setting up a temporary emergency station or supply zone
  
  

RIGLOO is also a portable, cost-effective solution for volunteer fire departments and youth fire departments to expand their operational tactics.

RIGLOO in use in mountain rescues – when help is needed fast

In the mountains, rapid assistance is not always possible. Long distances, difficult terrain, weather conditions – all these factors can delay evacuation. For injured people, this often means waiting for hours in the open air. RIGLOO offers effective protection for those affected – thermal, physical, and emotional.

In alpine regions in particular, a RIGLOO tent can:

• save lives by preventing heat loss,
• bridge the waiting time until transport,
• and provide rescuers with a protected working space.
  
  

RIGLOO in humanitarian use – temporary protection for refugees

The RIGLOO Refugee provides a shelter that has been specially designed for use on escape routes. It is not intended for permanent accommodation, but for acute, mobile use:

• as temporary protection from rain, snow, wind,
• when crossing open areas or waiting in transit zones,
• to protect the privacy and dignity of refugees, especially women and children.
  
  

Its low weight makes it easy to carry over long distances – to places where camps cannot or may not be set up.

RIGLOO in military and tactical use – protection in the field

In military contexts, too, situations regularly arise in which injured persons need immediate protection from view and the weather. The RIGLOO Defender was developed for tactical use and is available in camouflage colors (white for snow, green for forest/summer).

Typical application scenarios:

• Wound care in field conditions,
• protection against hypothermia after rescue,
• protected space for pre-clinical treatment in the battlefield.
  
  

RIGLOO really comes into its own in combination with Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) and delayed evacuation: compact, robust, effective.

RIGLOO in industrial and construction environments – practical shelter

RIGLOO can also be used outside of emergencies – e.g. for:

• Sewer and shaft work,
• Work exposed to the elements,
• Protection of injured workers until rescue arrives.
  
  

The removable floor allows the tent to be placed directly over machines, openings, or injured persons. This creates a safe working and protection area that reduces downtime and improves safety.

Hypothermia – medically serious, often underestimated

Hypothermia begins when the core body temperature falls below 35°C – at 32°C, it becomes life-threatening. Even mild hypothermia impairs blood clotting, prolongs recovery times, and increases mortality. In many cases, it is not the injury itself that is fatal, but the lack of insulation while waiting for help. RIGLOO is designed precisely for this phase: as a barrier against cold, wet, wind, and loss of dignity.

Cost-effectiveness, risk, and total cost of ownership

Rescue workers and authorities have to think economically. But if you only look at the initial costs, you overlook the total cost of ownership – i.e. the long-term costs resulting from:

• longer treatment times due to hypothermia,
• legal proceedings for violations of personal rights,
• long-term psychological effects on victims,
• bad press due to inadequate protection,
• time lost due to improvised measures.
  
  

A RIGLOO tent can be used for years and prevents many of these follow-up costs – with minimal space requirements and easy handling.

Return on prevention – prevention is the best investment

The return on prevention (RoP) shows that every dollar invested in preventive equipment such as RIGLOO saves many times more in consequential and long-term damage – medical, legal, psychological, and organizational.

Examples of benefits:

• Reduction of hospital and rehabilitation times through hypothermia prevention
• Protection against public scandals
• Lower psychosocial aftercare costs
• Relief for emergency services through professional working conditions
  
  

RIGLOO is therefore not only functional, but also economically, ethically, and tactically a sensible, sustainable solution.