"Safe Children's Day" ran the motto of the great fete organized under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland, Lech Kaczyński and his wife, Maria Kaczyńska in the gardens of the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. In this way the first couple engaged in an education campaign directed at the youngest generation of Poles - an action aiming at popularizing the essential knowledge about the proper behaviour in the face of different dangers. President and his wife hosted about 200 children engaged in various forms of activity in this field on a daily basis. (own info)
Spirited Fire Service
An industrial fire is like medical treatment - first minutes are crucial, says Jan Szrajber, commanding officer of the company fire service of the PKN Orlen SA, which celebrates its 45th anniversary this year. By Anna Łańduch
Rescue with a Capital "R"
Crashing in a borderland on an urban area, the transport/passenger aircraft fell in a goods train carrying chemical substance from a nearby dangerous substance factory... Such was the scenario of 2008 9th edition of national drill with the code name "COOperation 2008", which was held in the "Pstrąże" area belonging to the military training center in Żagań on 18 - 25 April. By Daniel Wiącek.
Operation "Fire 2008"
The city HQ of the SFS in Częstochowa organized in April in the Polish State Forest of the Herby Forest Division (the Silesia province) drill for 34 units of the volunteer fire service grouped in three command reserve units of the national rescue and firefighting system. (jerz.)
Tragic Consequences of a Storm in the Podkarpacie Province
"This was a terrible night! The bang made the window panes tremble. It was pouring so heavily, that one could not see his own hand", say the inhabitants of the villages in the Lubaczów area, which were affected by the storm. Marcin Betleja describes the rescue action.
HEMS - Help from the Air
Everyone is accustomed to the view of hurrying ambulances with the siren blaring. We do not think where they are going to, but whether they will be in time to help the victim. Yellow helicopters often fly over our heads, but we do not pay much attention to them. Once one of them lands and we see an ambulance approaching it, we realize that someone requires to be immediately transported to a hospital. What are the yellow helicopters? What is their role in the rescue system? How important are the doctors and paramedics in the Polish Medical Air Rescue? By Marek Popławski
International Fair of Fire Fighting Equipment PYROS
On Land, Water and in the Air
"Brno is fairs and fairs are Brno", say people in the Czech Republic, and it is not an exaggeration. The capital city of the wonderful region of Moravia has been a meeting place for engineers and manufacturers, businessmen and enthusiasts of technology, also the one connected with firefighting, for 80 years. Report by Jerzy Linder.
Protecting Eagle's Nest
One of the most tragic fires in post-war Poland, which occurred on 26 June 1971 in the Ludwik Waryński Oil Refinery in Czechowice-Dziedzice, as well as fires of the Rafineria Trzebinia SA in 2002 and Rafineria Gdańska Grupa "Lotos" SA in 2003 were a harsh lesson for the rescue protection. The most obvious conclusions drew from the lesson include the fact that the specific character of the upper tier establishments, such as refineries and petroleum works require the company fire service protecting them to be equipped with the best and highly effective equipment, including fire vehicles. By Paweł Frątczak.
SAWO 2008
Novelties and Education Fairs
Impressive exhibition area - greater by 80% than in 2006, well-prepared exhibitions and 28,000 visitors - these and other factors may prove a huge success and a high level of professionalism of the 19th International Fair of Work Protection, Rescue and Fire-Fighting SAWO 2008. By Paweł Wilczewski.
Thousand Items for Safety
Leading producers and distributors of the firefighting and rescue equipment, professional and volunteer firefighters, rescuers as well as the numerous representatives of the self-governments from all over Poland gathered on the 6th International Exhibition Rescue and Firefighting Technique EDURA 2008 on 5 - 7 June. Technical novelties, conferences and meetings - everything what happened during EDURA is described in the comprehensive report from the fairs.
Modules - How to Survive a Megadisaster
Modules are a way the EU Community Mechanism Member States prepare for a disaster on a scale beyond the rescue capabilities of one country. By Marcin Kędra.
International Prevention
A Fire Prevention Commission of the International Association of Fire and Rescue Service CTIF met in Sofia, Bulgaria at the end of April. I was also present there and I soaked up the impressions like a sponge. Eventually, it is not always possible to experience personally how the motto "Preventers of Europe, unite!" is executed in practice. I will do my best to present the impressions in this article. By Paweł Rochala.
Here Comes IT Reserve
In the 21st century it is impossible to disagree with the fact that the use of information is one of the conditions of success in every field of life. The situation is similar in the activity area of the State Fire Service. It is also needless to convince anyone that effective tools are necessary for effective use of information. Effective tools mean exact, complete and quick ones. Nowadays the computer programs are such tools. (Zet)
Removal of Road Incident Wastes
Field units of the State Fire Service have recently emphasized the increasing problem of removing the waste left after an action or accident from public roads and about shifting the responsibility on the SFS. The article tries to explain these problems in the context of effective law. By Robert Żurawski.
You Remain a Firefighter For Ever
The firefighters from the Masovia province celebrated the Firefighter Day in Radom at the end of May. A ceremony of symbolic opening of the new City HQ of the SFS in Radom was an important part of the celebration. Own info.
Alcohol - How to React on the Problem?
Alcohol abuse is an embarrassing problem, which is often closed within four walls of the Polish homes. Is it present also in the fire service units? By Monika Marcinkiewicz.
Wise Play - Serious Issue
One of the most effective strategies of preventing everyday dangers lies in systematic education of children. The maxim from the Age of Enlightenment - "teach through playing" (known e.g. from the fables of Ignacy Krasicki or Jean La Fontaine) comes true when the preventive measures in the field of the broadly defined safety are concerned. By Elżbieta Przyłuska
Little Big Men
They are ordinary children, who do not stand out as different. They play with their toys and watch cartoons. However, they often take decisions and actions, which save the live of their family and adult neighbours. They become little heroes. It is difficult, however, to find out what they have done. Among hundreds of thousands of incidents their cases are extraordinary exceptions. By Piotr Cholajda.
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