This is an initiative on a scale never seen before in Poland, comparable only to the solutions used in Switzerland and Sweden. A comprehensive action that combines education, cutting-edge technologies and the co-operation of services to build a more resilient and informed community.
Renata Granowska, Deputy Mayor of Wroclaw responsible for the implementation of Safe Wroclaw: ‘We believe that joint action and education is the key to a safer Wroclaw. It is a vision of a city where every resident feels safe and prepared for the challenges of the future.
As we can read in the handbook that all residents of Sweden received at the end of last year:
‘If something serious happens, help will be given first to those who need it most. Most of us will have to cope on their own for at least a week.’ As defence and threat prevention experts explain, it is fair to say that there is no country in the world whose people can say: ‘My municipality or my state will provide safety to me and my family.’
However, it is up to the city or the state to provide opportunities to learn how to provide aid or to pass on knowledge on how to prepare for dangerous situations. This is one of the goals of the Safe Wroclaw programme.
Safe Wroclaw. Practice and exercises
Our municipal programme combines practical knowledge with exercises for residents and services:
- Education and training
In the coming months and years, we will train intensively at neighbourhood picnics, school lessons, senior citizens' meetings and municipal events. In specially prepared tents, residents will have an opportunity to learn how to provide first aid, dress wounds, use AED defibrillators and prepare their own evacuation backpack. Training will also cover defence and civil security issues.
Michał Młyńczak, Deputy Mayor of Wroclaw: ‘We want every resident to have access to practical knowledge from experts and the uniformed services, because this is the key to an effective response in an emergency.
- Information service and alerts
In co-operation with experts, a special website has been launched: www.wroclaw.pl/bezpieczny-wroclaw. It contains key information, warnings from the city's Crisis Management Centre and guides on how to behave in various emergency situations.
'Among the instructors of Safe Wroclaw there are doctors, rescuers, police officers and specialists in battlefield medicine, who will share their knowledge of first aid, emergency planning and safe evacuation with the inhabitants,’ enumerates Joanna Bisiecka-Szymczak from the "Old Town" Volunteer Fire Brigade in Wroclaw.
- Equipment purchases
The city started investing heavily in the equipment needed to deal with natural disasters and other emergencies. It is not only a matter of providing emergency services with vehicles and equipment but also ensuring that municipal companies have their own fleet of machinery that can be used when needed to save the city or to help residents. In addition, the construction of equipment deposit and material storage facilities, e.g. in case of floods, is in progress.
- Modern technologies
There will be more defibrillators in the city, e.g. near some parcel lockers and in public transport vehicles. A mobile app 'First Rescuer' (a pioneering solution in Poland) will be launched. The app will notify rescuers and trained residents about incidents in the area and the location of defibrillators, making it much faster to provide first aid to victims.
- Education in schools
The Internal Security Agency’s officers will train teachers on crisis behaviour and cybersecurity. Young people from secondary schools in Wroclaw will also take part in specialised training.
- Co-operation of services and practical exercises
Both professional and voluntary services are involved in the implementation of the programme.
’Support from local communities and practical training are indispensable to respond effectively to crises.’Major Karol Jakubowski from the 16th Lower Silesian Territorial Defence Brigade
Drills and major manoeuvres will take place every year to improve the co-operation of services in emergency situations.
- Wear your life blanket as a key ring
Wroclaw is also preparing unique gifts for its residents, such as mini first aid kits, powerbanks, rescue blankets, also known as life blankets, i.e. thermal films and CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) masks that should prove useful in emergency situations.
- Support for seniors and cybersecurity
The Aware Senior programme is another important item on the agenda. The Active Senior Citizens' Centre at Hallera Avenue will organise training courses on cybersecurity, self-defence and first aid. And this is just one of several initiatives addressed to seniors.
- Innovations for safety
Tailored solutions for different social groups will be an important part of the programme. For example, the programme 'Be Safe. Mobile KTG for Women in Wroclaw’ enables the free rental of modern equipment for the telemedical monitoring of fetal heart function and uterine contractions, thus allowing for the comfortable and safe monitoring of pregnancy at home.
A life wristband system with a “life button” has been launched for seniors, enabling them to call for help quickly in an emergency. The successful pilot implementation of the programme has already been carried out, and its goal is to provide seniors with a sense of security, prompt assistance and psychological support available on a 24/7 basis.
The participants receive equipment, training and technical support, which allows them to function comfortably and safely in their daily life. Other targeted programmes are being developed for men, students and particular professional groups.
