RISK OF CONTACT WITH FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION DURING FIRE AND RESCUE OPERATIONS IN PRACTICE OF FIRE PROTECTION UNITS - OBSERVATIONS FROM 2017-2022

Abstract

Aim: Analysis the interventions of fi re protection units during fi res and local threats involving fi rearms and ammunition from 2017-2022. Material and methods: The study utilized data from the Decision Support System of the National Fire Service (DSS NFS) provided by the Operational Plan-ning Of f i ce. Events from January 1, 2017, 00:00 to December 31, 2022, 23:59 were analyzed. Quantitative data were described using the Mean and standard deviation (SD). The analysis is anonymous for both the victims and the of f i cers involved in the operations. Results: Between 2017 and 2022, fi ref i ghters carried out 248 (Mean 41.3; SD 7.3) interventions, of which local threats (LC) were n=191 and fi res (F) were n=57, during which fi ref i ghters came into contact with fi rearms and ammunition. These were primarily fi res in rooms with fi rearms inside n=57, collisions of civilian and military vehicles transporting weapons n=26, assistance other services n=84, other n=81. Conclusions: Weapons and ammunition in the context of fi ref i ghter interventions are infrequently encountered hazards. However, they add to the exten-sive list of dangers faced by this unit. The presence of such threats during operations did not translate to tangible risks of gunf i re or explosion. This may be attributed to ef f ective collaboration with other units and well-established procedures. Firef i ghters’ personal protective equipment is not designed to address the risk of gunshot wounds, but within the studied group, no such risk was observed. Firef i ghter medical protocols and kits are equipped to handle hemor-rhages resulting from injuries.