Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to present how KOMED PSP was organised and what equipment it used.
Introduction: Between 26 and 31 July 2016 Krakow hosted the 31st World Youth Day (WYD Krakow 2016). The programme of the event included a meeting with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, as well as other religious and cultural events. The Krakow Emergency Medical Team was directly responsible for ensuring medical safety at the event. Medical support during the event was provided by foot patrols, mobile patrols, permanent medical centres, medical tents and the Emergency Medical Team. Foot patrols comprised at least two individuals, including at least one nurse or paramedic, or a rescuer. The mobile patrol comprises one person with rescuer qualifications. In the permanent medical centre, there were two doctors or a paramedic, or a nurse, or a rescuer. The medical tent had one doctor, with at least five other people working along. One of the elements of medical support during these celebrations was the Medical Component of the State Fire Service (KOMED PSP). The main components of the KOMED PSP include pneumatic tents interconnected to form a single unit, including the TRIAGE tent, the resuscitation tent, the treatment tent, the monitoring tent, the outpatient tent, the storage tent, the operational & technical tent and the liaison tent. The TRIAGE tent contains materials to keep medical records, as well as one facility to assess patients’ condition. The resuscitation tent had 2 monitoring units, 2 defibrillators, a respirator, an aspirator, an infusion pump, an ultrasound machine, and a blood-gas analyser. The treatment tent includes 4 facilities equipped with units monitoring vital signs. The monitoring tent has got 10 facilities for monitoring patients, additionally equipped with an AED defibrillator. The outpatient tent has 2 facilities to examine patients with minor injuries and ailments. The operational & technical tent is designed for the command team’s operations, while the function of the liaison tent is to connect all the KOMED PSP elements and the logistics section. KOMED PSP provided medical aid for 388 people from different countries around the world.
Project and methods: The research material consisted of the documentation collected by the organiser of medical support during WYD 2016 in Krakow and by the established team of specialists from the State Fire Service, describing the principles of the organisation of the KOMED PSP.
Conclusions: The Medical Component of the State Fire Service was a vital factor in ensuring the safety of pilgrims during the 2016 World Youth Days in Krakow.
Keywords: World Youth Days, the tent hospital, the medical component, medical safety, mass event
Type of article: review article