Participation of fire protection units in Poland in ensuring the continuous operation of ventilators for home use — a 7-year observation

Abstract

Introduction: After each weather front with gales all over Poland, firemen have to perform a few hundred or so interventions. The life of persons covered by a specialistic treatment — home mechanical ventilation HMV — depends upon stable supplies of electricity. In case of breakdowns, indispensable aid is given by firemen who deliver generating sets available in Rescue and Firefighting Units (RFU). Aim of the study: Analysis and a statistical presentation of interventions of fire protection units to support the correct operation of home medical machines in case of temporary power failure. Material and methods: Data obtained from the Decision Support System of the State Fire Service (SFS DSS), made available to the authors by the Operational Planning Bureau at the Headquarters of the State Fire Service. In graphical presentations utilized were materials from the Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography, Law on Geodesy and Cartography, viz. Database for Topographic Objects, National Register of Borders. Medical data consistent with the purpose of the study were collected from the analysis of reports compiled by the person in charge of a rescue action of the State Fire Service, which is not the leading service in medical interventions. Results: In 2015–2021 were 1490 local hazards in which case it was necessary to support the operation — in most cases of ventilators for home use among people requiring ventilator-based therapy. The data show a constantly rising trend, the number of such actions increased by 64.29% — from 163 to 276 [mean (M) = 215.86, standard deviation (SD) = 66.35]. The average waiting time for undertaking inter - vention in these types of events was 910.68 seconds (15 min, 10 s). Conclusions: A significant element of rescue actions are volunteer fire brigade squads for being better deployed in rural areas, provided with generating sets; they can ensure faster an emergency electricity source. Persons in charge of a rescue action should draw up the medical part of a report more accurately (concerning the victim and the disease entity) while performing qualified first aid procedures.