Psychomotor abilities of candidates for Polish Special Forces.

Combat tasks involving special units often put a mental and physical strain on the soldiers. During the military operation, soldiers may struggle with multiple difficulties such as extreme physical effort, sleep deprivation, weather conditions, limited access to food and stress. These circumstances require a high level of cognitive ability (including psychomotor abilities) to overcome the physiological stress response and to be able to quickly and efficiently make decisions under stressful situations, especially in combat. The aim of the study was to assess the level of the psychomotor abilities of candidates for the Polish Special Forces. The study comprised 48 candidates for the Polish Special Forces (age: [Formula: see text]), 40 athletes (age: [Formula: see text]) and 40 non-athletes (age: 24). The study was performed using Test2Drive software. Four computer-based tests were used to assess the following psychomotor abilities: simple reaction time, choice reaction time, hand-eye coordination and two-dimensional visuomotor coordination/spatial orientation test (SPANT). The analysis demonstrated statistically significant differences in reaction time and motor time between the study groups. The shortest reaction time in each test was observed in athletes, while the shortest motor time was observed in soldiers. All the psychomotor tests, except for the number of correct answers in SPANT, demonstrated statistically significant differences between the studied groups. It was also found that military training had a positive effect on the motor time in every psychomotor test. As regards the reaction time, it was observed that the athletes were characterised with better reaction times than the special forces candidates. The study has confirmed that military training and sports training have a positive effect on the level of psychomotor abilities, especially motor time.

[Analysis of actions taken by medical rescue teams in the Polish Emergency Medical Servies system. Is the model of division into specialistad basic teams reasonable?]. / Analiza dzialan zespolw ratownictwa medycznego w polskim systemie Panstwowego Ratownictwa Medycznego. Czy model podzialu na zespoly specjalistyczne i podstawowe znajduje uzasadnienie?

BACKGROUND: The Polish Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system is based on two types of medical rescue teams (MRT): specialist (S)--with system doctors and basic (B)--only paramedics. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study is to assess the reasonability of dividing medical rescue teams into specialist and basic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The retrospective analysis of medical cards of rescue activities performed during 21,896 interventions by medical rescue teams, 15,877 of which--by basic medical rescue teams (B MRT) and 6,019--by specialist medical rescue teams (S MRT). The procedures executed by both types of teams were compared. RESULTS: In the analysed group of dispatches, 56.4% were unrelated to medical emergencies. Simultaneously, 52.7% of code 1 interventions and 59.2% of code 2 interventions did not result in transporting the patient to the hospital. The qualification of S teams' dispatches is characterised by a higher number of assigned codes 1 (53.2% vs. 15.9%). It is worth emphasising that the procedures that can be applied exclusively by system doctors do not exceed 1% of interventions. Moreover, the number of the actions performed in medical emergencies in the secured region by the S team that is dispatched as the first one is comparable to that performed by B teams. The low need for usinq S teams'aid by B teams (0.92% of the interventions) was also indicated. CONCLUSIONS: This study points to the necessity to discuss the implementation of straightforward principles of call qualification and the optimisation of the system doctors' role in prehospital activities.

[Regional analgesia for trauma patients]. / Znieczulenie przewodowe jako element postepowania z ofiarami urazów.

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively assessed the effects and usefulness of regional techniques, performed at the time of admission to the emergency department, in patients with lower limb trauma. METHODS: A fascia iliaca compartment block using "three in one" method, and the sciatic nerve block from the lateral approach in the popliteal fossa were used.The effectiveness of blocks were assessed according to the Numerical Rating Scale. RESULTS: A fascia iliaca compartment block was performed in 12 cases, and sciatic nerve block in 13 cases. Various doses and drugs combination were used depending on parients needs.The "three in one" technique was satisfactory in 11 cases and popliteal technique in 10. No anaesthesia-related side effects or complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Regional techniques may be useful in the emergency department, for patients with lower limb trauma but they require expertise and skills.

[Simplified schema of action of the ambulance rescue services during mass casualty]. / Uproszczone zasady postepowania zespolów ratownictwa medycznego w zdarzeniu masowym.

Authors represented problems relating mass - casualty accidents and manner of segregation of victims. Lifesaving activities in mass - casualty usually leads to increased emotional stress. It is the result of event specificity, and also of external threats in the zone of activity. Authors presented schema prepared for needs of Cracow's - Ambulance Rescue Services, being the adaptation of universally accepted in western countries algorithm (SAD CHALETS).

[Effectiveness of resuscitation delivered by Polish paramedics]. / Ocena skutecznosci dzialan resuscytacyjnych wykonywanych przez polskich ratowników.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and skills in BLS and use of automatic external defibrillators (AED) by paramedics from units of the National Fire and Rescue System. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-eight rescuers participated in the study. They included both volunteers and professionals, and were recruited from 40 different rescue organizations. The results were evaluated by experienced physicians, nurses and paramedics, all holders of ALS and BLS-AED instructor diplomas. The following skills were evaluated: initial assessment, ventilation, chest compression, and use of the AED. The quality of the BLS-AED was rated against the professional experience of the rescuers, and the frequency of repetition training. RESULTS: Although theoretical background was rated good, 45% of participants omitted assessment of consciousness. Airway patency and respiration were properly assessed by 82.5% and 72.5% of paramedics respectively, but only 20% could provide adequate rescue breaths to the phantom victims. Circulation was correctly assessed by 65% of participants, but once again, only 34.4% of paramedics could provide adequate chest compression. The results correlated positively with professional experience, based on the number of rescue missions (0-250, mean 4.3, median 1). DISCUSSION: The results proved that despite adequate theoretical knowledge, practical skills of paramedics were poor, due to the inadequate time devoted to practical training and the lack of certificate courses.

[Mass casualty events]. / Zdarzenia masowe.

Authors present problems concerning mass--casualty accidents, specificity of action rescue-system on different levels of co-operation, kind of segregation of victims and efficiency of the medical rescue system in Poland. Attention has been paid to the continuous instructions and education of life-saving services, preferably by simulation of events without earlier information of the interested. It is necessary to establish and abide official dependence by the rules of co-operation of components of life-saving system. A separate problem is the implementation of rescue--activities in special situations: nuclear, biological and chemical contamination, and with very important safety measures for people taking part in rescue action.