In the Krkonoše they trained with mountain techniques

In the end, 10 people began training. 3 candidates failed the qualifying exam. The test was not easy, 1 of the things that had to be done was to march on ski slopes and show the skills of ski slopes in difficult, vegetation-covered terrain in the Jizera Stog in Świeradów-Zdrój. And it's not over. There was besides another challenge ahead of the candidates: they had to save the individual buried by the avalanche. – During this task we tested the ability to act in a crisis situation and the cognition of the alleged ABC avalanche, i.e. the search for a individual buried, and then dig her out of the snow. All utilizing basic equipment: avalanche detector, probe and shoulder blade – stresses Captain Dąbrowski. “The best chances of uncovering a surviving man are within the first 15 minutes of the avalanche”, the officer adds.

Climbing and rescue

Participants of training in the Krkonoše and Jizera Mountains during the first week of the class practiced the most crucial techniques of climbing, skiing, movement utilizing cancers, braking by waiting or alleged flight insurance, i.e. the movement of respective people connected with rope, e.g. in the glacier area. The aim was to harmonise all the techniques utilized by soldiers in the mountains in winter. – Coursers have mountain experience, but to date they have been trained according to different methods and so apply different techniques, specified as climbing, the usage of cancers, etc. We wanted to teach them one, adopted in the Polish Army – says Captain Dąbrowski. He adds that the demanding exercise was just aviation insurance, so a march in the ice field, that is, where there are gaps. – People who decision through specified an area should tie a line together. If individual falls into a gap, their partners can then pull it out utilizing line techniques – Captain Dąbrowski explains.

The students besides trained to climb up to 30 m in the tiny Pond Basin at the Lonesome Hostel at the ft of the Plains close Sněžka. They besides practiced topography, planning the way of the march in the mountains, learning to analyse the hazard of moving operations in winter. They faced a challenging challenge of first aid to the injured and then preparing and conducting evacuation by chopper in the advanced Stone summit area. – It was about combining all techniques utilized in the mountains in winter. The students had to plan the way of the march, then after encountering the victim, give him first aid and execute a trauma examination and defend him from hypothermia, says Captain Dąbrowski. Then you had to fold two-piece UT2000 stretchers and prepare them for transport by helicopter.

In the second week of the course, soldiers had already performed as instructors. Their task was to independently plan and run exercises with action in the mountain area in winter.

The course organized by the Academy of Land Forces ended, but before the soldiers who want to gain mountain teacher privileges in the Polish Army, another challenge. In a year they will have a monthly specialist course, which will take place in the Krkonoše and Tatra Mountains. It does not request to be attended by soldiers who have civilian teacher privileges acquired within the Polish Union of Alpinism, GOPR or TOPR.