Causes and efects of cave accidents in the area of Kraków-Częstochowa upland

Background: Mountain’s caves should be characterized by a set of unique rules and those who comply with them may be rewarded with the opportunity to experience memorable, worth cherishing moments. There are plenty of threats, determined by both natural causes and tourists' actions, which might wait for hikers. Aim of the study: The aim of the research was to carry out the analysis of the accident rate within the caves situated in the area of Kraków- Częstochowa Upland.Material and methods: The method of the documentation analysis was used for the research; the analysis was carried out on the documentation involving years 1998-2014 (October) belonging to Jurajska Task Force of the Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue based in Podlesice. The research material comprised of the following documents: MVSaR incident reports, the reports from the rescue expeditions and the inspection book of the transport equipment.Results: Most of the cave accidents occurring in the area of Kraków-Częstochowa Upland took place in the Sokole Mountains. The following causes of these dangerous incidents were indicated as the lack of proper equipment and poor physical condition, being lost, falling from the heights, slipping and being trapped. The consequences were really serious, ranging from fractured bones of the pelvis and the spine to even fatal accidents.Conclusions: Mountain/cave tourism is undoubtedly the source of many unforgettable memories. However, it is essential that those who perform it ought to be aware of the dangers associated with it. They must not disregard the necessity of performing it in accordance to generally accepted rules of safety. Keywords: Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, caves, accidents