A Rescue Assist sticker incorporating a QR code is now standard on all new Mercedes-Benz vans.

The increasing complexity of vehicle technology means that many additional factors now need to be taken into account when facilitating the safe rescue of occupants after an accident.

Scanning the Rescue Assist QR code with an enabled smartphone or tablet opens up a digital rescue card that shows all model details including the location of vital vehicle components, such as fuel tanks, airbags and electric cables.

This information enables a fast and safe rescue, minimising the risks for occupants, as well as for the emergency teams helping, saving around two minutes of precious time.

Mercedes-Benz is the first manufacturer in the world to equip all new vans as standard with the Rescue Assist sticker. The sticker is available as a retrofit option on all vans built since 1996 and can be undertaken by all Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Dealers from January 2015.

The location of the Rescue Assist sticker is standardised for each Mercedes-Benz van model, easily accessible to emergency service teams. In the case of the Vito and the Sprinter, it is located on the B-pillars on the driver's and the co-driver's side. In the case of the Citan, the QR code is inside the fuel filler flap and on the B-pillar on the other side of the vehicle.

If no mobile internet connection is available, the rescue services can also make use of an app specially developed for this purpose. This solution allows digital rescue cards to be called up offline from the device's memory. The device memory can be updated with new and modified rescue cards at the touch of a button. The app will be available free of charge from 2015.