1. AIM OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS:

1. To assess and improve knowledge of medical procedures and the ability to lead and coordinate rescue operations.
2. To facilitate competition between medical rescue teams.
3. To select the Polish Champion in Emergency Medical Rescue.

2. ORGANISER AND VENUE

1. The organiser of the 23rd Polish International Emergency Medical Rescue Championships (hereinafter referred to as the Championships) is the Voivodeship Ambulance Service in Olsztyn (hereinafter referred to as the Organiser) and the University of Warmia and Mazury.
2. During the preparation and running of the Championships, the Organiser shall cooperate with other public bodies and services.
3. The Championships will take place in the city of Olsztyn and the Olsztyn County from 9 to 11 September 2026.
4. Accommodation will be provided in hotels in Olsztyn.

3. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

1. Entries will be accepted via the form published on the Organiser’s website.
2. The Championship will feature teams selected during the qualifiers for the Polish Championship, as well as one team each from the Organiser and the qualifiers’ organisers.
3. The Organiser reserves the right to award a ‘wild card’ to teams meeting the conditions of participation.
4. In addition to the overall classification, foreign teams will take part in the Championships.
5. The ambulances of the individual crews participating in the Championships should be equipped with the same equipment as that used by the emergency medical teams of the State Emergency Medical Service (minimal equipment is listen in the annex).
6. Emergency medical teams representing entities within the State Emergency Medical Service participate in the overall classification. Team members must have been employed under an employment contract or a civil law contract for at least 6 months by the unit they represent.
7. A team that took first place in the Polish Championships in the previous edition of the competition may only participate once in the championships.
8. The championships last 3 days.
9. Polish teams shall consist of two persons qualified to perform emergency medical procedures, at least one of whom must be authorised to drive emergency vehicles (the driver must have a full set of documents), and one team member shall be designated as the team leader. Specialist teams are not permitted to compete.
10. Teams competing outside the general classification may consist of two or three persons.
11. Changes to the team composition are permitted following notification to the Organiser and obtaining their consent in the event of unforeseen circumstances or illness of a team member.
12. Team members may not include instructors holding valid BLS, ERC, AHA, ITLS or PHTLS qualifications.
13. In championships organised by Members of the Association of Medical Rescue Employers may take part healthcare providers that are independent public healthcare institutions, budgetary units or a limited company in which at least 51% of the shares are held by the State Treasury or a local government body. With the organiser’s consent, foreign teams may participate.

4. COMMANDERS AND JUDGES

1. The judging panel consists of a chief judge, an appeals judge, and medical and technical judges.
2. In medical competitions, the Organiser shall appoint a person responsible for a given task (or tasks) – this may be a doctor, paramedic or EMS nurse, provided that such a person holds valid ERC, AHA, ITLS or PHTLS instructor qualifications.
3. At least one track judge must be a doctor, paramedic or EMS nurse, and such a person must hold valid ERC, AHA, ITLS or PHTLS instructor qualifications; the second judge must have completed a relevant course.
4. Each task is judged by a minimum of two judges.
5. The Organiser may commission external organization to provide judging services. The Championship Organiser may also invite individuals from other units of the emergency medical services system to act as judges. In such cases, the organiser shall provide accommodation and meals, and, in consultation with and with the consent of the individual’s primary employer, arrange for their secondment to the competition for the purpose of judging.

5. COMPETITIONS / TASKS

1. The duration of the competition shall not exceed 24 hours – taking into account all types of medical, technical and theoretical tasks.
2. The organiser reserves the right to organize training tasks that are not included in the overall classification.
3. There shall be a minimum of 8 day and night tasks during the Championships.
4. Tasks are prepared in accordance with guidelines and current medical knowledge.
5. Arriving late at the task site by a time exceeding that of the two subsequent teams starting later will result in the late team’s disqualification from that task. If the delay is the Organiser’s fault, this clause does not apply.
6. A specific time limit will be set for the completion of each task. Two minutes before the end of the task, the judge will inform the team. Once the time allocated for the task has elapsed (following the judge’s signal), the team must collect their equipment and waste and leave the scene, regardless of the progress made in the rescue operations.
7. The task time is counted from the moment of arrival at the task site following the judge’s command “time – start”.
8. The team’s time at the scene may be shorter than the maximum if all the activities planned for the task have been completed, as decided by the team leader.
9. The competition may be halted by the judge at any time if a team’s actions create a dangerous situation (for themselves or other participants in the task), or if the task scenario has been completed.

6. RULES OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP

1. The Championship is based on the completion of practical, technical and theoretical tasks.
2. The Championship takes place on public and closed roads, as well as at other locations designated by the Organiser.
3. Competing teams are required to strictly observe the rules of the road.
4. During the competition, the use of light and sound signals is PROHIBITED, except in situations where:
   1. the task description contains a specific instruction to do so, and their use is necessary to secure the scene of an incident during the competition,
   2. the team encounters a real-life incident whilst performing the task, requiring the use of the signals, or at the judge’s instruction.
   3. The organiser will inform participants of the possibility of using signals in specific situations.
5. Police patrols measuring speed and checking compliance with traffic regulations, or other services with statutory powers to carry out checks, may be present along the competition route.
6. Participants should exercise particular caution when the route is technically challenging or when approaching a junction. Participants must be particularly careful, bearing in mind that vehicles may emerge from fields, forest tracks or individual buildings.
7. Penalty points may be awarded for speeding and other breaches of road safety regulations, and these will be deducted from the total points scored by the team. The participant bears all consequences resulting from a breach of the above rules, including the exclusion of the entire team from participation in the Championships. Penalty points are calculated according to the Police penalty point system (fines).
8. Any repairs to the ambulance/equipment must be carried out in a safe location, allowing other participants to pass freely or complete their tasks.
9. The consumption of alcoholic beverages and other substances with effects similar to alcohol is prohibited during the competitions. The Organiser reserves the right to test participants for alcohol and other substances with effects similar to alcohol. The result of any alcohol test must be 0 per mille.
10. A team in which at least one member is under the influence of alcohol or other substances with effects similar to alcohol shall be excluded from participating in the Championship competitions.
11. Each team shall receive a start number from the Organiser prior to the start of the Championship.
12. During the Championships, teams will receive maps showing routes to the tasks, addresses or GPS coordinates.
13. Teams must report to the starting point for the task at the designated time.
14. Judges will only provide information upon explicit request from team members. Questions may relate solely to the task being carried out.
15. When assessing the casualty (role players, manikin) during the task, unless the judge provides information on medical parameters, the parameters simulated on the manikin or by the role player must be taken as valid.
16. Teams are required to comply with the instructions issued by the judges.
17. The scoring for each task will be based on the assessment tables.
18. The final classification is based on the total number of points scored by the team during the performance of all practical and theoretical tasks, after deduction of penalty points.
19. In the event of a tie, the final ranking will be determined by the points from the medical tasks, minus any penalty points.
20. Equipment and medical supplies should comply with the accepted standards for P-class ambulances, with the exception of a ventilator and an infusion pump, which are not required. (in accordance with the order of the President of the National Health Fund and the Polish Standard PN-EN 1789 for medical vehicles). Teams may compete without ambulances and without equipment, provided that such a competition agreement has been established or the Organiser has agreed to provide ambulances/equipment. The use of a ventilator simulator is permitted – in this situation, the team must provide the judge with the set parameters.
21. If the equipment required to complete the task is not available, the team will not receive any points for the part of the task that requires the use of that equipment.
22. Any equipment required to complete the task that goes beyond the requirements set out in point 20 will be provided by the Organiser.
23. The use of devices for mechanical chest compression is prohibited, except where the Organiser provides such equipment.
24. The Organisers shall not be liable for any damage to, or the abandonment or loss of, equipment or personal belongings by a team during or after the completion of tasks.
25. Only teams participating in the Championships, judges and persons authorised by the Organiser may be present at the task site (within the designated area). It is prohibited for accompanying persons to be transported by ambulances or to participate in the tasks. Failure to comply with these instructions will result in the task not being counted.
26. During the task, the team is prohibited from using cameras, mobile phones, computers, radios, PDAs, calculators, as well as pre-prepared cards containing algorithms and drug dosages and concentrations.
27. A camera or video camera may be used by an accompanying person, admitted by the Organiser to the task area, provided that the relevant permission has been obtained from the judges. The person filming or taking photographs must remain in the area designated by the judge. The recorded video footage or photographic documentation will not be taken into account when assessing and scoring the task, nor may it form the basis for an appeal against the judges’ decision.
28. If part of the task involves preparing the casualty for transport, this must be done as in a real-life situation.
29. Disqualified teams will not receive a certificate of participation in the championships.

7. BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPANTS

As part of the entry fee, the Organiser provides the following during the Championships: accommodation, meals, a starter pack and medical cover.

8. APPEALS COMMITTEE

1. For the duration of the Championships, the Organiser shall appoint an APPEALS COMMITTEE comprising the Chief Judge of the competition, the Appeals Judge and one representative of the Organiser.
2. The Committee shall consist of three members and shall take decisions by a simple majority of votes.
3. Appeals against the judges’ decisions may only be lodged in writing with the Appeals Committee within one hour of the completion of the competition and the debriefing, and after payment of a deposit of PLN 200 at the competition secretariat. The deposit is forfeited if the Appeals Committee deems the protest to be unfounded.

9. PROCEEDINGS OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY TEAMS

1. Medical Emergency Teams shall operate in accordance with the principles set out in the Act on State Medical Emergency Services and in accordance with the rules laid down in these regulations. Foreign teams shall operate within the scope of their respective competences.
2. During the Championships:
   1. actions exceeding the team’s scope of competence may be carried out after justifying them to the judge,
   2. procedures performed on the patient are based on available/examined data and parameters specified by the judge,
   3. the structure of the task is based on the same scenario, parameters and timing for each participating team,
   4. all non-invasive procedures are performed on real patients, whilst invasive procedures are performed on manikins,
   5. with regard to actions not described in these regulations, ad hoc decisions taken by the Competition Organiser are permitted, subject to the consent of the Chief Judge and the Appeals Committee. Decisions must be announced in writing,
   6. should a real-life incident occur during the competition, the team is obliged to perform the necessary emergency medical procedures, call the emergency medical services, and report the incident to the Competition Office and the Championship Commander,
   7. participants are required to comply with the instructions issued by the judges.

10. PRIZES

The winners of the Championships will be presented with commemorative trophies, certificates and other prizes.

11. PENALTIES

The Appeals Committee, in consultation with the Organiser, may impose the following penalties for failure to comply with the Championship Regulations:

1. penalty points,
2. a warning,
3. suspension,
4. disqualification.

12. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

1. Participants should respect the natural environment.
2. Participants must not litter the site or leave household/medical waste on the course or within the Championship grounds.

13. FINAL PROVISIONS

1. A representative of the Association of Medical Rescue Employers shall participate in the Championships in an observer capacity.
2. The Organiser shall not be liable for accidents or unforeseen incidents occurring whilst participants are travelling to or from the competition, or during the course of the Championships.
3. Each participant takes part in the competition at their own risk.
4. The Organiser and all persons acting on its behalf or under its authority in connection with the conduct and organisation of the competition shall not be liable for any personal injury, damage to property or financial loss suffered by participants before, during or after the competition.
5. Participants shall be civilly liable for any damage caused by them to other participants or third parties.
6. The Organiser shall not be liable for any collisions or accidents caused by the Participant’s fault.
7. Participants declare that all personal details and health information provided by them in the registration form are complete and true.
8. Participants undertake to comply with the instructions and orders issued by the Organiser’s security staff during the event.
9. Participants undertake to comply with the terms and conditions of the regulations and the conditions of participation. Submission of the entry form to the Organiser confirms that the participant has read and understood the terms and conditions of the regulations and participation in the competition.
10. Teams without race numbers moving around the Championship venue will be removed by technical staff.
11. The Championships will take place regardless of weather conditions.
12. Photographs, video recordings and interviews with participants, as well as results listing participants’ names, may be used by the Organiser and, with the Organiser’s consent, by the media.
13. Upon registration, participants consent to the processing of their personal data and image by the Organiser in accordance with the Act of 10 May 2018 on the protection of personal data (i.e. Journal of Laws 2019.1781).
14. During the Championships, participants are required to treat the Judges, Organisers and other participants with due respect. Unethical behaviour shall be reported to the Appeals Committee, which, in consultation with the Organiser, may impose the penalty specified in point 11 of these Rules.
15. Ignorance of these Regulations and failure to comply with them shall not be accepted by the Organiser as an excuse.