On Thursday, May 23, 2024, Prof. Tomasz Szczepanski, MD, met with students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, who won the Polish Universities' Championship in Emergency Medical Services. Congratulations were also offered by Prof. dr. hab. n. med. and n. o zdr. Alicja Grzanka, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze. The huge success of the students is also an honor for our University. After all, taking first place means that it is the Silesian Medical University in Katowice that will be the organizer of next year's XIV Polish Championships of Higher Education Institutions in Medical Rescue.
Mateusz Gąbarczyk, Monika Grochala and Natalia Kurzyńska defeated 16 teams from all over Poland and took first place at the 13th Polish Championships of Universities and Colleges in Medical Rescue, which this year was organized in Bielsko-Biała.
– This is a great joy for us and a beautiful culmination of our studies. From the beginning, we went to this competition with the idea that we wanted to be on the podium, and although we did not expect to win the title of Polish Champion, we definitely earned this award. We gave it our all and won, said Monika Grochala, a third-year WNMZ paramedic student.
In addition, our champions won a cup for the highest number of points awarded in one of the many competitions called "Gaciok". Their task was to provide first aid to a cyclist who suffered a serious injury during a bicycle trip to Szyndzielnia.SUM students had to, among other things, stop a massive hemorrhage from the right upper limb by applying a tourniquet, perform stabilization of the cervical spine, and perform examinations according to the so-called ABCDE scheme (assessment of the injured condition) and trauma examination. Importantly, our students were one of the few who noticed a tourniquet on the cyclist's arm with the inscription "I am diabetic" thanks to which they additionally performed a blood glucose test, which confirmed the patient's hypoglycemia. Thus, the SUM team received additional points from the jury, which secured them not only a place on the podium, but also a cup.
– The entire academic community is bursting with great pride and joy that there are such Champions among our students! Thank you for representing our University with dignity and I congratulate you on your commitment, passion and determination. I also thank Mr. Jan Pischka and all the employees of the SUM Emergency Department who have prepared our students in an exemplary manner, said Prof. Tomasz Szczepanski, Rector of SUM, who also added – Today we celebrate doubly. We boast not only of the success of our students, but also of the information that it is the Silesian Medical University in Katowice that will be the organizer of the XIV Polish Championships of Universities in Medical Rescue. The competition will take place next year and will perfectly fit in with the 25th anniversary of the existence of emergency medical services in Zabrze.
