Dublin Civil Defence volunteers helped Kraków victims. Polish SAR director Sebastian Kluska once served with them
Sebastian Kluska, director of the Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service (SAR), has paid tribute to the six Dublin Civil Defence volunteers who went to the aid of the wounded after Saturday’s shooting in Kraków’s Main Market Square. Sebastian Kluska served with the Irish organisation in 2005-2006. The volunteers, in Kraków on a private city break, performed CPR and stemmed severe bleeding among the injured.
In brief
Six Dublin Civil Defence volunteers, visiting Kraków privately, performed resuscitation and stopped bleeding in the wounded after the attack on the Main Market Square. The shooting on Saturday 7 November killed four women and two men, and more than a dozen people were injured. Sebastian Kluska, director of the Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service, who served in Dublin Civil Defence in 2005-2006, thanked the Irish volunteers. Sebastian Kluska also offered combat medicine training for the Police and paramedics.
Volunteers trained for medical response
The attack took place on 7 November in the heart of Kraków’s Old Town. Four women and two men were killed at the scene, and more than a dozen people were injured, including two police officers.
James McConnell, Civil Defence Officer at Dublin Civil Defence, told RTÉ News that the volunteers are trained to provide medical care and immediately went to help the injured. Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee described their actions as extraordinary. The volunteers belong to the organisation’s Central Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) Unit. Among the six were Gareth Daniel and Joe Mulligan.
- Well done to our Central AFS Unit for providing medical care in Kraków this afternoon. We are very proud of them all. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their families - Dublin Civil Defence said.
A tribute from the head of Polish SAR
Sebastian Kluska addressed his former colleagues directly after reports of the volunteers’ response emerged. He served in the ranks of Dublin Civil Defence before returning to Poland, where he now leads the service responsible for saving lives at sea in Polish waters.
- Huge respect from Poland and congratulations to James McConnell, head of the Dublin Civil Defence. Six members of the DCD assisted the injured during the tragedy in Kraków. I am proud to have once served with you. Now I know who the best and bravest heroes are. Guys, it was an honour to serve with you - said Sebastian Kluska, director of the Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service.
Rescue on land and on the water
Dublin Civil Defence is a volunteer service that supports Dublin Fire Brigade and other emergency services in the Irish capital. Its members provide medical cover at public events, assist with evacuations and flooding, and carry out water rescue.
The organisation runs its own Boat Unit, which provides specialist water-based support at events and emergency incidents across Dublin. Its crews operate out of Dún Laoghaire and other harbours and have repeatedly pulled swimmers in difficulty from the sea during open-water events.
Battlefield medicine training offered to Polish services
Sebastian Kluska also responded to the tragedy itself with a concrete offer for Polish services. As national coordinator of the Global Ports Safety project, he has proposed organising battlefield medicine training for the Polish Police and paramedics, to be delivered by an experienced Filipino emergency medicine specialist and a team.
- A huge tragedy in Kraków. Condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for the injured. The Filipino team’s offer has been on the table for a long time, but today’s events show it may be worth taking up - Sebastian Kluska added.
Battlefield medicine focuses above all on rapid control of severe bleeding and keeping casualties alive until evacuation, the same skills the Dublin volunteers used in the Main Market Square.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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