Rescue in Poland – History, Essence and Future

Aim: The aim of the article is to present the history, essence and mission of the Polish rescue system, and its location in the system of civil protection, civil defence, general security, and even more broadly, national security. The article is also an attempt to answer the question about the essence of the Polish rescue system, its holistic definition containing the most important immanent components common to all its fields and varieties. It is also an answer to the question about the main goals of this system, as well as the correlation with the existing threats classified into three main catalogues. Introduction: In this article, the authors tried to familiarize readers with the organization, origins and location of the Polish rescue system in the above-mentioned security systems, articulating its diversity and potential. This article consists of two main parts. In the first one, the authors presented a historical outline of Polish rescue services, presenting its main areas and primary entities responsible for them. The second part presents the essence of Polish rescue in correlation with national security, general security, population protection and civil defence. The whole is complemented by conclusions focusing mainly on articulating the strong and established position of rescue in the systemic approach to public safety in Poland. Methodology: The article mainly analyses the most important normative documents, scientific articles and compact monographs recognized in the field of rescue and protection of the population of the authors. Conclusions: Polish rescue is based on functioning of many institutions (including services, inspections and guards), which partly has historical implications and partly results from a certain internationalization of rescue in several areas, such as sea and air rescue. On the one hand, it greatly complicates the overall picture of the set of elements of the Polish rescue system. On the other hand, it proves his high potential. It seems that the Polish rescue system has an established and strong position in the general security system and constitutes an important element of Polish national security. This does not mean, that this system does not need changes. For example, the above-mentioned dispersion of the system forces the adoption of certain unifications both in the organizational, formal-legal and IT spheres, so that the individual executive and management elements operating within the system operate based on common goals and mission on the basis of cooperation and not competition. Keywords: security, civil protection, rescue, history of Polish rescue, general security