The role of emergency medical services and cooperating entities as an element influencing public safety on the example of chemical rescue

Crisis-like events contribute to a heightened sense of threat and the state, in order to restore this imbalance, creates protective systems. One of them is the healthcare system. The law in force in Poland requires the state to ensure that citizens have access to medical services, even in crisis situations. This goal should be pursued in cooperation with medical units and law enforcement, administrative and technical units. This is particularly important in the face of threats related to the release of hazardous substances, which require the use of specialised forces and resources in chemical rescue and related ecological rescue. The aim of this article is to characterise the organisation and operation of rescue entities in situations involving chemical hazards and to identify any perceived shortcomings. The content of this article is the result of the author’s research and analysis of available literature, including procedures developed by selected rescue systems operating in Poland.