Sudden Cardiac Arrests in the Polish Tatra Mountains: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Achieving the optimal survival rate for sudden cardiac arrest in mountains is challenging. The odds of surviving are influenced mainly by distance, response time, and organization of the emergency medical system. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiology and outcomes of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed in the Polish Tatra Mountains.

Incidence, characteristics and management of pain in one operational area of medical emergency teams.

Background: Experience of pain associated with both chronic as well as acute medical conditions is a main cause for call for ambulance. The aim of this study was to establish both frequency and characteristics of pain reported by patients treated in pre-hospital environment in a single operational area. The supplementary goal was an analysis of methods of pain alleviation applied by medical personnel in the above described scenario.

Deep snow immersion suffocation--the deadly threat.

This report presents the case of non-avalanche-related snow immersion death in the Tatra Mountains, which meets all the criteria of this rare phenomenon. The causes and mechanism of deep snow immersion suffocation as well as prevention strategies are discussed.