Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-hw7sx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-27T10:25:57.682Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Multiple-Casualty Incident Following Lightning Strike at Mount Giewont: An Analysis of Disaster Rescue Response

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 October 2025

Maciej Mikiewicz*
Affiliation:
Jagiellonian University Medical College, Centre for Intensive Care and Perioperative Medicine, Krakow, Poland Tatra Mountains Rescue Service, Zakopane, Poland Polish Medical Air Rescue, Warsaw, Poland
Andrzej Górka
Affiliation:
Tatra Mountains Rescue Service, Zakopane, Poland
Adam Burakowski
Affiliation:
Tatra Mountains Rescue Service, Zakopane, Poland Polish Medical Air Rescue, Warsaw, Poland Clinical Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, National Medical Institute the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland
Przemysław Guła
Affiliation:
Tatra Mountains Rescue Service, Zakopane, Poland Polish Medical Air Rescue, Warsaw, Poland
Wojciech Szczeklik
Affiliation:
Jagiellonian University Medical College, Centre for Intensive Care and Perioperative Medicine, Krakow, Poland
Sylweriusz Kosiński
Affiliation:
Tatra Mountains Rescue Service, Zakopane, Poland Mountain Medicine Laboratory, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Zakopane, Poland
*
Correspondence: Maciej Mikiewicz Jagiellonian University Medical College Centre for Intensive Care and Perioperative Medicine Krakow, Poland Email: maciej.mikiewicz@uj.edu.pl

Abstract

On August 22, 2019, several cloud-to-ground currents struck the top of the popular hiking mountain Giewont (Tatra Mountains, Poland). At the scene, first aid and evacuation were provided by mountain emergency rescue services. The injured patients received care and were initially stabilized at a local general hospital. Some of the victims were then relocated to other nearby hospitals, regional trauma centers, or regional burn centers. This study is a retrospective analysis of regional health system response. The official records of the disaster response from the institutions involved were examined. Surveys were conducted through interviews with mountain rescuers, coordinators, and other health care workers regarding interventions, triage, and communication during the disaster response. The analysis was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Medical Commission of the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR-MEDCOM). There were 134 people involved in accidents: four died at the scene, four were considered severely injured, 118 were moderately and mildly injured, and eight had no signs of injury. Mountain rescue services were able to evacuate and provide first aid to all victims within four hours after activation. Close cooperation among various institutions involved, including mountain emergency rescue services, hospitals, fire departments, dispatch centers, and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), is critical to the successful management of mass-casualty incidents (MCIs) in mountain areas. Effective triage algorithms and communication structures should be implemented.

Information

Type
Disaster Report
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Blancher, M, Albasini, F, Elsensohn, F, et al. Management of multi-casualty incidents in mountain rescue: evidence-based guidelines of the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MEDCOM). High Alt Med Biol. 2018;19(2):131140.10.1089/ham.2017.0143CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kitagawa, N, Ohashi, M, Ishikawa, T. The substantial mechanisms of step voltage effects. Journal of Atmospheric Electricity. 2001;21(2):8794.10.1541/jae.21.87CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pasieka, P, Polak, D, Pasieka, P, et al. The various pathological manifestations of a lightning strike exemplified in a single four-fatality incident – a case report and review of a literature. Leg Med (Tokyo). 2022;58:102099.10.1016/j.legalmed.2022.102099CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ładny, JR, Michalak, G, Ziółkowski, P, et al. [Recommendations of the National Consultant for Emergency Medicine regarding procedures in the event of a multiple/mass-cases incident]. https://archiwum.mz.gov.pl/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2015-06-17-PROCEDURA-Zdarzenie-MNOGIE-MASOWE-wersja-1.0.pdf. Accessed July 2025.Google Scholar
Cooper, MA, Andrews, C, Holle, R, et al. Lightning Injuries. Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier; 2016:p60101.Google Scholar
van Ruler, R, Eikendal, T, Kooij, FO, et al. A shocking injury: a clinical review of lightning injuries highlighting pitfalls and a treatment protocol. Injury. 2022;53(10):30703077.10.1016/j.injury.2022.08.024CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bettencourt, AP, Romanowski, KS, Joe, V, et al. Updating the burn center referral criteria: results from the 2018 eDelphi consensus study. J Burn Care Res. 2020;41(5):10521062.10.1093/jbcr/iraa038CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kosiński, S, Aleksandrowicz, D, Serafinowicz, Z. A storm, an explosion, and flying rocks - an unusual injury due to a lightning strike in the mountains. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022;37(4):547549.10.1017/S1049023X22000899CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mackway-Jones, K, Marsden, J, Windle, J. Emergency Triage . Manchester Triage Group. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley; 2014.Google Scholar
Musi, ME, Sheets, A, Zafren, K, et al. Clinical staging of accidental hypothermia: The Revised Swiss System: Recommendation of the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom). Resuscitation. 2021;162 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2021.02.038CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Mikiewicz et al. supplementary material 1

Mikiewicz et al. supplementary material
Download Mikiewicz et al. supplementary material 1(File)
File 10 MB
Supplementary material: File

Mikiewicz et al. supplementary material 2

Mikiewicz et al. supplementary material
Download Mikiewicz et al. supplementary material 2(File)
File 10.7 MB