RESEARCH PAPER
Neurological disorders as a cause of interventions by National Rescue and Firefighting System units in Poland
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Medical Rescue, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
2
Department of Emergency Medical Services, Poznan Medical Academy of Applied Sciences Mieszko I, Poznan, Poland
3
Department of Agriculture, John Paul II University in Biała Podlaska, Poland
4
Department of Geriatric Nursing, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
Submission date: 2026-06-12
Final revision date: 2026-07-09
Acceptance date: 2026-07-09
Online publication date: 2026-08-03
Corresponding author
Łukasz Dudziński
Department of Medical Rescue, Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
The aim of the study was to analyze interventions by the National Rescue and Firefighting System (NRFS) units in incidents related to neurological disorders and deficits.
Material and methods:
The study used data from the Decision Support System of the State Fire Service (DSS-SFS). Incidents occurring between January 1, 2020, 00:00 – December 31, 2023, 23:59 were analyzed. Quantitative data were described using the mean and standard deviation (SD). Additionally, a cartogram was created to visualize spatial disparities in incident rates per 1,000 inhabitants. All the statistical analyses were performed using Statistica 13.
Results:
Between 2020 and 2023, firefighters were dispatched 1,306 times to operations related to the study aim. The interventions were classified under the category isolated emergency medical incidents (IEMI). The mean number of events was 20.41 (SD=16.73), and the median was 16. Values ranged from 1 to 70, and the interquartile range (IQR) was 22.
Conclusions:
The use of specialized equipment available to NRFS entities offers various possibilities for supporting medical rescue entities. Investment in new technologies in rescue operations contributes to the effectiveness of activities. The State Fire Service (SFS) is the primary service cooperating with the State Emergency Medical Services (SEMS) during medical rescue operations.
REFERENCES (27)
1.
[Act of August 24, 1991, on Fire Protection (Journal of Laws 1991, No. 81, Item 351)] (in Polish).
2.
[Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration dated July 3, 2017, on the detailed organization of the national rescue and firefighting system (Journal of Laws 2017, item 1319)] (in Polish).
3.
Podlasinski R, Ciekanowski Z, Radkevych, A. Specialist Rescue Groups of the State Fire Service. Secur. Defensione 2022; 8(2): 145-161.
https://doi.org/10.34739/dsd.2....
4.
National Fire Service Headquarters. [Principles of the Organization of Emergency Medical Services within the National Emergency Response System (KSRG)] [Internet]. Warsaw: National Fire Service Headquarters; 2026 [access 2026 Jun 4]. Available from: www.gov.pl/web/zasady-organizacji-ratownictwa-medycznego-w-ksrg (in Polish).
5.
[Act of September 8, 2006, on the State Emergency Medical Services (Journal of Laws of 2006, No. 191, Item 1410)] (in Polish).
6.
Fellner A, Feltynowski M, Fellner R. [Navigation preparation of UAV to the operational activities of fire services]. Zeszyty Naukowe SGSP. 2021; 79: 51-82 (in Polish).
https://doi.org/10.5604/01.300....
7.
Dudziński Ł, Glinka M, Panczyk M. Psychiatric conditions in the practice of National Emergency Medical Services teams in Eastern Poland during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic. Psychiatr. Pol. 2023; 57(3): 621-635.
https://doi.org/10.12740/PP/15....
8.
Berglund E, Byrsell F, Forsberg S, Nord A, Jonsson M. Are first responders first? The rally to the suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation. 2022; 180: 70-77.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resu....
9.
[Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of March 6, 2019, on the list of medical services that may be provided by a paramedic as part of the duties of the Police, the State Protection Service, the Border Guard, and the State Fire Service (Journal of Laws 2019, item 472)] (in Polish).
10.
State Fire Service. [State Fire Service Newsletter for 2021-2022]. Warsaw: Press Office of the State Fire Service Chief Commander’s Office; 2022/23 (in Polish).
11.
Dudziński Ł, Kubiak T, Gałązkowski R, Grochowska J, Czyżewski Ł, Pandur A. Isolated emergency medical incidents in the practice of Polish firefighters in 2020-2023: analysis of intervention causes. Front. Public Health. 2025; 13: 1721695.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.....
12.
Nord-Ljungquist H, Bohm K, Fridlund B, Elmqvist C, Engström A. “Time that save lives” while waiting for ambulance in rural environments. International Emergency Nursing. 2021; 59: 101100.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj....
13.
National Fire Service Headquarters. [Rescue modules for international operations]. Warsaw: National Fire Service Headquarters [access 2026 Jun 4] Available from: www.gov.pl/web/kgpsp/moduly-ratownicze-do-dzialan-miedzynarodowych (in Polish).
14.
World Health Organization. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, ICD-10, Volume XII [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2021 [access 2026 Jun 4]. Available from: www.who.int/standards/classifications/classification-of-diseases/list-of-official-icd-10-updates.
15.
Dudzinski L, Czyzewski L, Gałazkowski R, Jaskiewicz F, Nadolny K, Kubiak T. Polish firefighters’ participation in interventions related to behavioral disorders in the 2020-2022 period: an observation of incidents. Healthcare (Basel). 2024; 12(23): 2482.
https://doi.org/10.3390/health....
16.
Boland LL, Satterlee PA, Fernstrom KM, Hanson KG, Desikan P, LaCroix BK. Advanced clinical interventions performed by emergency medical responder firefighters prior to ambulance arrival. Prehospital Emergency Care. 2014; 19(1): 96-102.
https://doi.org/10.3109/109031....
17.
Maczulski K, Dudziński Ł, Jaśkiewicz F, Czyżewski Ł. Participation of firefighters in interventions to mental disorders as support to medical teams: a review of the literature. Health Prob Civil. 2025; 19(2): 170-178.
https://doi.org/10.5114/hpc.20....
18.
Svensson A, Nilsson B, Lantz E, Bremer A, Årestedt K, Israelsson J. Response times in rural areas for emergency medical services, fire and rescue services and voluntary first responders during out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Resusc Plus. 2024; 17: 100548.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp....
19.
Metelmann C, Metelmann B, Müller MP, Scquizzato T, Baldi E, Barry T, et al. Defining the terminology of first responders alerted for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by medical dispatch centres: an international consensus study on nomenclature. Resusc Plus. 2025; 22: 100912.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp....
20.
Tymiński J. [Prehospital cooperation between qualified first aid providers and healthcare professionals]. Zeszyty Naukowe SGSP. 2022; 81: 89-106 (in Polish).
https://doi.org/10.5604/01.300....
21.
Nadolny K, Ładny JR, Zyśko D, Gałązkowski R, Gąsior M, Kraska W. Interventions of emergency medical teams in Poland during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Kardiol Pol. 2021; 79(1): 72-75.
https://doi.org/10.33963/KP.15....
22.
Kubiak T, Dudziński Ł, Pandur A, Bogar B, Czyżewski Ł. Emergency medical response systems in the European Union: a qualitative comparative study with practical recommendations for civil protection reform in Poland. Emerg Med Serv. 2025; XII(3): 145-151.
https://doi.org/10.36740/EmeMS....
23.
Grip L, Karlsson S. Maintaining emergency services in rural areas: recruitment and retention of non-career firefighters in Sweden. J Rural Stud. 2025; 114: 103555.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrur....
24.
Rantala A, Conradsson A, Adamsson J, Forsell L, Wihlborg J. Collaboration among emergency first responders at major incidents – an explorative focus group study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2026; 34: 75.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049....
25.
Mucha M. [International mechanisms for assistance to disaster-affected countries and rescue operations of international search and rescue teams on the example of the mission of the Polish Heavy Search and Rescue Team after the earthquake in Turkey]. Rocznik Bezpieczeństwa Międzynarodowego, 2023; 17(1): 115-144 (in Polish).
https://doi.org/10.34862/rbm.2....
26.
Kubiak T, Dudzinski Ł, Fellner R, Feltynowski M, Czyżewski Ł. Use of unmanned aerial vehicles by the entities of National Firefighting and Rescue System in Poland to search for people – a review of interventions performed in the years 2021-2023. International Journal of Emergency Services. 2025; 14(1): 41-51
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJES-0....
27.
de Almeida TRF, de Araújo AL, Munhoz D, Andrade PG, Wagner GA. Suicide attempts assisted by firefighters according to traumatic brain injury. J of Prevention. 2022; 43: 823-840.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935....