INTRODUCTION

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in firearms in Poland, which may be related to the armed conflict in the territory of our eastern neighbors. Programs are being implemented to familiarise and promote sport shooting in society. On 1 July 2022, the nationwide project “Sports Shooting for Everyone” was launched, implemented as part of the competition of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism under the name “Supporting the Popularisation of Sports Shooting” [1].

In addition to this project, numerous similar local initiatives were organized. Shooting sports clubs and commercial shooting ranges have reported increased interest in sports shooting training. The society’s fear of the armed conflict spilling over into Poland also resulted in an increased demand for the purchase of firearms and ammunition. Poland has also boosted its arms exports, which, together with the civilian demand for small arms, causes increased traffic in the area of transporting these products. The natural effect of the increased demand for firearms is not only the storage of ammunition by individual users of firearms but also increased orders from traders and wholesalers. In addition to the state armed services, there are many economic operators that provide property and people protection services. There are commercial and private vans on the roads, carrying weapons and ammunition in various amounts. In addition to the regular movement of firearms owners, the aforementioned armed conflict across the eastern border intensified projects related to the movement of weapons and ammunition by all means of transport [2, 3].

Table 1 presents Police data in the three-year period (2020–2022) concerning the issue of firearms permits and registered firearms units in Poland.

There are two rescue systems operating in Poland, the National Rescue and Firefighting System (NRFS) based on firefighters and the State Medical Rescue System, which perform an important role in ensuring the safety of Polish residents. The system consists of emergency medical teams (EMT) and hospital emergency departments (ED). The field teams are divided into ground teams (ambulance) and air teams (helicopters) at the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) bases [5–7].

NRFS consists of the State Fire Service (SFS) established by the Act of 1991 and other entities included in the NRFS, such as the Volunteer Fire Brigade (VFB), company fire brigade, and airport fire brigade, which complement each other. The catalog of tasks carried out by the firefighters is specified in the Fire Protection Act of 24 August 1991 and in the Regulation of the Minister of the Interior and Administration of 17 September 2021 on the detailed organization of the national rescue and firefighting system. The tasks of the firefighters incorporate two groups of threats, such as fighting fires and local threats. All NRFS entities are uniformed, where special (protective) clothing is referred to as a uniform, and firefighters’ tasks have solely a rescue profile, which excludes the need to arm them. NRFS is a unified system, consistent across both urban and rural environments, as well as various regions of the country. The homogeneous structure of the NRFS, despite the differences in training between professional firefighters and volunteer fire service members, is intrinsically linked to the reference of competence, and consequently, the responsibility for the conducted rescue operations [8–10].

In their rescue and firefighting operations, firefighters may come into contact with firearms. It may pose a risk to rescuers due to the possibility of inserting a cartridge into the cartridge chamber, or firearms may be in the hands of a victim in an incident. There are active hunting districts in numerous counties in Poland, namely 4771, with a total area of over 25.5 thousand hectares. There are sports, hunting, commercial, and private shooting ranges. Shooting ranges located in cities are often closed, i.e. built up. The number of counties and cities with county rights is 379, while the number of shooting ranges operating in Poland is 464 [11, 12].

TCCC involves tactical care for a casualty in combat conditions (an armed incident). Knowledge of the TCCC assumptions is essential when operating in such conditions. This is of particular importance during rescue operations [13–15].

Based on the TCCC, the Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) concept was developed, targeting non-military operations conducted by armed public service formations. However, it is not a universal concept, as it represents a partial conversion of TCCC to the realities of a tactical civil environment but does not address the needs of unarmed entities [16].

Purpose of the study

Obtaining information on the knowledge of persons serving in Fire Protection Units (FPU) in safety in incidents with firearms and firearms ammunition, the risk of their use (suicide attempt), their use (active shooter), effects of such use, or consequences of use in the practice of firefighters (treating the injured).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

228 people took part in an anonymous survey. The study was addressed to both SFS and VFB. The research tool was a proprietary questionnaire composed of 10 questions. The questionnaire was made available to respondents online using Google Forms. The research was carried out from 26 February 2022 to 10 April 2022. In February (1–10) 2022, a pilot study was performed in a randomly selected rescue and firefighting unit (RFU) in the Dolnośląskie Province to determine whether all questions were comprehensible. The survey consists of two parts: a metric (profile of each firefighter, age, length of service) and the practical part of the survey assessing the level of knowledge.

The obtained samples were subjected to statistical analysis. The data of the officers were fully anonymous, and participation in the survey was voluntary, of which the respondents were informed. The described cases are fully anonymous, the analysis complies with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration and did not require the consent of the bioethics committee.

The questions contained in the survey are intended to test the knowledge of general concepts and principles and to subjectively assess one’s knowledge and skills. The survey was divided among firefighters of the SFS and VFB. The questions are followed by the correct answers along with the value of the choice of this answer by the respondents. In addition, the answer “I don’t know” was introduced — as an indicator of firefighters’ awareness of their deficits in a particular issue. The remaining responses are a set of answers placed in the survey as incorrect.

Characteristics of the research area

There are 32.8 thousand people serving in the SFS, including almost 7.7 thousand serving in the daily system (8 hours), and over 25,000 working in a shift mode. In addition, there are about 700 thousand scout members of the VFB, among whom 228 thousand are entitled to directly participate in rescue and firefighting operations [17, 18].

Research inclusion criteria

228 individuals voluntarily took their time to complete the online survey.

Incorrect and incomplete completion of the questionnaire was excluded from the research group — the electronic sheet was designed so as not to save any incorrect and incomplete questionnaires.

Statistical analysis

Qualitative variables (age, sex) were presented as quantity (n) and percentage values of the whole group (%), while proportions in groups were assessed with a Chi-squared test. Statistica 13 software (StatSoft Inc., Tulsa, OK, USA) was used in the statistical analysis. P < 0.05 was adopted as the significance level.

Limitations

Our study had some limitations:

RESULTS

Two hundred twenty eight firefighters participated in the survey. Table 2 presents the results of the metrics and the results of the answers checking the knowledge of firearms, which is the main purpose of the paper.

The statistical analysis showed that the SFS firefighters significantly more often had higher education (Bachelor/Master) degrees than firefighters of the VFB (64% vs 23%; P < 0.001). In the question checking the knowledge of the TCCC definition, it was shown that SFS statistically significantly more often indicated the correct answer, i.e. “Strategy for dealing with the casualty on the battlefield” (61% vs 64%, p = 0.020). In the question checking the knowledge of the possibility of sending firearms and ammunition, VFB firemen statistically significantly more often indicated the answer that it is absolutely forbidden (79% vs 58%, p = 0.032). In the question regarding the self-assessment of the ability to secure a potentially loaded firearm, it was shown that the assessed skill improved statistically significantly with age (p = 0.030). The statistical analysis also showed that the type of service performed (VFB vs SFS) had an impact on the knowledge of procedures in terms of stopping hemorrhage (p = 0.025) and securing firearms (p = 0.037). In addition, a statistically significant effect of age on the knowledge of procedures related to the protection of armed victims in a traffic accident was demonstrated (p = 0.025).

DISCUSSION

Knowledge of the TCCC assumptions, and helping the injured on the battlefield is of essence. The main assumption is to continue the fight, responding with fire, which pertains not only to members of a militarized group, regardless of the formation (unit), but also to its wounded members. The activities of such a formation are aimed at the intended goal. It is a concept far different from that of the civil rescue. In the case of unarmed formations, which are appointed and thus trained to remove the effects of incidents, this concept cannot be implemented. Unarmed rescue formations may be unable to properly recognize threats and take action in the rescue doctrine characteristic of armed formations. Currently, rescue concepts are based on the TCCC assumptions, including the Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (C-TECC) concepts dedicated to civilian circumstances, where the recommendations for unarmed services operating in the “hot” zone, i.e. under fire, are correctly focused on avoiding exposure by seeking cover or escaping from fire [19, 20].

The results of our survey indicate that firefighters, as unarmed uniformed formations, do not have sufficient knowledge regarding the occurrence of situations when they get within the firing range of firearms. Especially in situations where the knowledge of the ballistic impact of a projectile on a person and indirectly on the environment, e.g. potential shields, is not an obligatory training program for these rescuers [21, 22].

Experiences on the modern battlefield have provided a lot of data related to survival, where self-assistance and first aid rendered by rescuers or witnesses of the incident significantly improve the survival rate if adequate recommendations are followed [23].

The term active shooter is used to describe an aggressor in the active phase of an attack with the use of firearms against people. Such an attack may take many forms, from entering a public facility to occupying a high position. Knowledge of the term “active shooter” seems to be important when firefighters find themselves in such a situation or are sent to potential actions by the leading service.

Securing the scene of the event (question 6) involves, among others, disarming the injured. This is essential as injury and loss of blood may lead to unconsciousness in the casualty. There is a real threat of using firearms, knives, or explosives against rescuers by the injured with impaired consciousness. Even if the injured are unconscious, it is necessary to disarm them because the actions of rescuers will be aimed at improving the condition of the victim, immediately after regaining consciousness, the armed victim will not have the ability to critically and realistically assess the situation. Figure 1 presents selected methods of securing firearms or signaling their unloading.

Figure 1. Professional and improvised methods of securing firearms; A. An example of securing the 7.62 mm AKMS rifle by locking the slide and the magazine well with a bicycle padlock; B. An example of securing the CZ P-09 pistol cal. 9 mm with a padlock dedicated to securing weapons as above; C. An example of a short safety indicator in the CZ P-09 pistol, cal. 9 mm, blocking the movement of the bolt and the insertion of the round into the chamber; D. An example of a safety indicator on a Ruger Security Six revolver cal. .357 mag. blocking the possibility of the firing pin hitting the cartridge primer (Source: authors’ private archive)

Two sections of Article 36 of the Act on Weapons and Ammunition are crucial: section 1. Shipment of weapons or ammunition via operators providing postal services is allowed, on condition that they provide such services. Section 2. Shipment of weapons or ammunition via entities other than those specified in section 1 is prohibited [24].

During the flare-up of the armed conflict in Ukraine, the traffic of weapons, including arms and ammunition, intensified. An additional aspect is a significant increase in the number of gun permits issued. According to the Police, in 2021, almost 20 thousand gun permits were issued, whereby the increase compared to previous years is 4 thousand permits. This entails that in houses and flats and in traffic, the number of people with guns and ammunition is growing. These data refer to persons legally possessing firearms and ammunition, where in total 760,218 units of firearms were registered in the hands of civilians, mainly professionally connected with the military, as well as athletes and hunters [5].

A separate group of legal owners of firearms is black powder (cartridge) shooters, where no registration or firearms permit is required for black powder firearms (i.e. historic firearms designed before 1885) and their modern replicas. According to estimates, the number of black powder weapons in private hands is 300–600 thousand units. Due to the fact that their possession does not require any registration, specifying the exact amount is impossible. In the case of people with black powder weapons, there is a risk that they also have black (smoke) powder, which, due to the lack of knowledge of regulations and safety rules by users, may be stored in inappropriate conditions [24].

According to the current legal status in Poland, a firearm may be lent (transferred for use) only to a person holding an adequate firearms permit. Article 28 of the Act on Weapons and Ammunition applies only to sport shooters and hunters. This means that the law does not provide for other possibilities of handing over firearms, especially to rescuers or services providing assistance to victims who are physically accompanied by firearms. The storage of firearms in Poland is governed by the provisions of the Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs of 26 August 2014 on the storage, carrying, and recording of weapons and ammunition (Journal of Laws of 2014, item 1224). This regulation requires the storage of firearms and ammunition in at least class S1 cabinets (common names are “armored cabinet” or “safe”). These two statutes constitute a serious dissonance between the law itself and the actual safety of rescuers in the context of disarming the victim, moving firearms, and securing them [25, 26].

While the data from the survey are declarative, it seems unlikely that such a percentage of firefighters would have knowledge and skills related to firearms. It should be noted that military training or service in an armed uniformed formation rarely gives the opportunity to acquire extensive knowledge in the subject area. Service in an armed formation usually limits the possibility of training in the use of one or two types of weapons in the option of the adopted standard of the formation. Differences in survey results between professional firefighters and VFB members may arise from differences in training. Only SFS units carry out intensive training for their profession and continuous professional development, which is a systematic process described in official documentation containing: schedule, topics, and time devoted.

In question 10, 49.7% of VFB members said they were very well or well prepared to secure firearms. The authors of the article note in such declarations the risk of overestimating one’s own capabilities. While the authors assess these respondents’ answers subjectively, their assessment is based on practical instructor experience in the area of shooting.

CONCLUSIONS

Firefighters’ knowledge of safety rules in incidents involving firearms is insufficient. Completion of a course in qualified first aid, professional development covering only TCCC issues, and military service for firefighters are insufficient during activities where there is a risk of contact with firearms and ammunition. Firefighters do not use TCCC safety considerations against an armed casualty when the event is a fire incident. Firefighters presented a low level of knowledge of current legal regulations with regard to the possession, transport, and protection of firearms and ammunition. Firefighters subjectively declare very good or good knowledge of securing loaded firearms, which may be related to military or civil shooting training.

Article information and declarations

Data availability statement

Original contributions presented in the study are included in the article — section ‘Results’. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Ł.Cz, upon reasonable request.

Ethics statement

The described cases are fully anonymous, the analysis complies with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration and did not require the consent of the bioethics committee.

Author contributions

Rafał Kasperczyk — A, B, D

Łukasz Dudziński — B, D, E

Łukasz Czyżewski — B, C, E, F

A — Work concept and design

B — Data collection and analysis

C — Responsibility for statistical analysis

D — Writing the article

E — Critical review

F — Final approval of the article.

Funding

None.

Acknowledgments

The authors would thank to the rescue and firefighting unit (RFU) in the Dolnośląskie Province.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.