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Tatra mountain rescue epidemiology over 10 years

Epidemiology and severity of mountain rescue missions in Poland: a retrospective study of 9,477 patients rescued by the Tatra Mountain Rescue Service
Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine · Added 26 May 2026

Retrospective analysis of 9,477 mountain rescue missions over 10 years found a median NACA score of 2 with 38% classified as moderate-to-severe, seasonal variation in severity, and helicopter use correlated with higher acuity, providing epidemiological data that could inform training and resource planning for wilderness EMS.

Study type

Registry

Design

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected rescue registry data

Participants

9,477 patients rescued in the Polish Tatra Mountains 2015–2024

Main finding

Median NACA score 2 (IQR 0–3); 38% NACA ≥3; deaths in 2%; median mission duration 1.75 h; ~24 rescues per 100,000 park visitors; severe cases more frequent in winter (6.3% vs 4.7%, p=0.001); helicopter use correlated with higher NACA scores.

Caveat

Single mountain rescue service in Poland; limited generalisability to Australian settings

Bottom line

Context only

Learning goal

Understand how seasonal variation and patient acuity shape prehospital wilderness rescue and aeromedical decision making.

More

• Topic: Operations & systems
• Daily scan: 26 May 2026

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