Emergency preparedness of the Integrated Rescue System and its bodies for sudden accidents associated with a large number of injuries and victims in Slovakia

The main topic of the thesis is the readiness for emergencies with a large number of injured and victims of the bodies of IRS in the SR. The work is divided into two main parts, theoretical and empirical. In the theoretical part of the work several bodies of the IRS in the SR, which participate during rescue and clean-up operations, are introduced. The basic bodies of the rescue system are described in detail, other bodies and bodies of the Police Force are described in brief. The work also includes categories of emergencies and brief information of disaster medicine as well. At the end, the theoretical part addresses the problem of sorting the injured by history through the categories and types of selection, sorting methods "START" and JumpSTART, a sorting card, and organization of activities in the place of an event associated with the "triage" procedures. Empirical part consists of research to determine theoretical knowledge of selected bodies of the IRS on the issue of triage. The main aim of this work was to determine the theoretical readiness of selected bodies of the IRS Fire and Rescue Service and Emergency Medical Service in the SR, confirm the need for continuous training and the organization of tactical exercises focused on mass disaster and work out and propose the same procedure of sorting the injured in incidents with a large number of injured and victims. Two hypotheses related to the theoretical readiness of selected bodies associated with sorting the injured in an emergency were established. The first assumption was that paramedics have better scope of theoretical knowledge about handling with emergencies, particularly sorting the injured than members of the Fire and Rescue Service. The second assumption was that the bodies of IRS have better knowledge about the system of sorting the injured "START" than the system "JumpSTART". Basic statistic method that allowed confirmation or refutation of hypotheses two-stage test is described in the chapter too. The methodology describes a method of data collection using a questionnaire, describes the statistical methods in detail and enriches it with the determination of basic empirical parameters and their comparison. The found discrepancies were expressed as a percentage. Data to confirm hypotheses were collected from paramedics and members of the Fire and Rescue Service. Only one hypothesis was confirmed. Empirical investigation showed that theoretical knowledge about the issue "triage" are at a much higher level in paramedics than members of the Fire and Rescue Service. Another observation was that the selected bodies do not show a difference in knowledge about the classification of adults and children, when considered together. There would be a big difference if they were compared individually. The results identified weaknesses in knowledge particularly among members of the Fire and Rescue Service and, therefore, detailed procedure for "triage" in emergencies was proposed. It will serve as a tool primarily for members of the Fire and Rescue Service as well as a study material for university graduates in the field of emergency health care. The need for emergency medical service was designed rescue bag with aids for primary triage. The need for continuous training was observed, particularly among members of the Fire and Rescue Service, who lack the information and skills. Organizing tactical exercises especially for paramedics with the possibility of cooperation with members of the Fire and Rescue Service was proposed as well. In the light of these findings, we recommend making effort to address the deficiencies in the theoretical preparedness through the organizing of continuing education, prepare similar questionnaires for verifying knowledge after the seminars, organize training of practical skills and verify knowledge through participation in exercises on dealing with catastrophe, together with the other emergency bodies