Open AccessCHANGES IN FUNCTIONING OF THE EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND THE 112 EMERGENCY NUMBER IN POLAND
Author(s) -
Aleksandra Skrabacz
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
vìsnik lʹvìvsʹkogo deržavnogo unìversitetu bezpeki žittêdìâlʹnostì
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2708-1389
pISSN - 2078-4643
DOI - 10.32447/20784643.24.2021.14
Subject(s) - notification system , emergency medical services , medical emergency , fire brigade , computer security , business , operations management , computer science , engineering , medicine , aeronautics , world wide web
. Striving to improve performance should be a characteristic feature of any system. This particularly concerns systems dedicated to the protection of human life and health. The efficiency of these systems often decides about the survival of an injured person. Such a system is the emergency notification system, which has been functioning in Poland since 2013, responsible for the efficient operation of the emergency number 112. Results and discussion. The article presents the organization of the emergency notification system, which operates throughout Poland in a continuous system. Emergency numbers are handled by Rescue Notification Centres, which operate in 16 voivodships and additionally in the capital city of the country - Warsaw. Since the launch of the emergency notification system, several changes have been introduced, aimed at improving its efficiency and enhancing the functionality of the 112 emergency number. It has been assumed that the emergency notification system consists of the emergency notification centres (CPR), constituting a uniform system for handling emergency calls directed to the emergency number 112. Handing over such a call enables the initiation of the rescue procedure and involvement of relevant rescue resources. Specific rescue tasks in the system are performed by medical rescue units, fire brigades and police. Many other services also cooperate with the system, such as gas and electricity emergency services. Conclusions. As a result of the study, it was concluded that changes in the emergency notification system contributed to increasing its efficiency. Integration of the fire brigade (998) and police (997) emergency numbers under a common 112 number enables a quick rescue action and dispatching the appropriate formation. The change of positions in Rescue Notification Centres should also be assessed positively. Emergency number operators can be promoted and improve their qualifications. It has been acknowledged that non-alarm notifications, which block the system and increase the financial costs of its operation, are still a problem in the functioning of the emergency notification system. Therefore,continuous education of the public should be carried out in order to raise awareness of the principles of use of the emergency number 112.