The caving community in Poland, starting in the 1970s, regularly organized and participated in cave-rescue training and practiced cave rescue in Poland and abroad.
The Cave Rescue Group was informally founded during a meeting of representatives of cave clubs in Podlesice on October 25, 2014. The direct reason for the meeting was a series of caving accidents that took place abroad. The Group was then formally established by the management of the Polish Mountaineering Association on July 7, 2015. As part of this organization, we operated for the next five years, gathering people and experience.
On December 3, 2019, the Polish Mountaineering Association suspended the GRJ.
Consequently, we made the difficult but necessary decision to separate ourselves from the PZA.
From August 28, 2020, we are already an independent Cave Rescue Group – Association (Stowarzyszenie GRUPA RATOWNICTWA JASKINIOWEGO).
The Group is divided into four sections:
- Rescuer Section – persons trained appropriately in cave-rescue techniques,
- Medical Section – a group of medical rescuers and doctors,
- Diving Section – persons who actively dive in caves at home and abroad,
- Support Section – persons responsible for logistics, marketing, etc.
What is the main purpose of our activity?
The main purpose of the Cave Rescue Group is cave-mountaineering support during exploration operations in the entire world, frequently in regions where no other rescue services or local cavers are available.
We are open to support and cooperation with local and foreign cave-rescue services during complicated and difficult rescue operations in caves. Our purpose is not to compete or replace local rescue services.
Our activities are of a social and not commercial nature. None of our rescuers receive pay or subsistence allowance for their activity in the Cave Rescue Group.
Cave rescue is our hobby.
Who are the members of the Cave Rescue Group?
They are mountaineering instructors, who completed specialized rescue practices and repeatedly taught courses, including on the topic of cave rescue for services like the State Fire Service (PSP) and the Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue (GOPR).
They are experienced mountaineers, explorers (discoverers) of caves not only in Poland, including in the West Tatras Mountains, but mainly in the world: Austria, Slovenia, Spain, China, which are only some of the areas of interest of our members.
They are also specialists in their fields: doctors, medics, cave divers and others.
They are mainly people who completed courses on cave rescue at home and abroad (including courses of the Spéléo Secours Français, SSF).
In addition, we just go caving, and this is our hobby. We regularly participate in and organize simulated cave-rescue exercises at home and abroad.
How do we train?
We regularly organize cave-rescue courses, gatherings and practices for our members both in-country and abroad on a range of techniques for cave rescue, medical support, service and management of headquarters etc.
Additionally, we train with other rescue services, not only Polish [e.g., Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue (GOPR), Mine rescue (CSRG), or KGHM], but also with foreign rescue services, actively participating in conferences, courses and practices (including in Ireland, Czech Republic, Romania and France).
Who do we cooperate with?
With every Polish and foreign organization whose general purpose is caving.
Contact:
- e-mail: grj.polska@gmail.com
- facebook: grupa_ratownictwa_jaskiniowego
Main coordinator:
- Michał Macioszczyk – (0048) 514 257 317