A Detector in Every Home versus the Integrated Qualification System and New Tasks in Civil Protection

Aim: The author set himself the task of discussing the prevention activities carried out in Poland regarding incidents involving fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and gas explosions in residential buildings. In addition to reviewing existing legislative solutions and public campaigns, the author made suggestions for improvements and possible actions. Among them are further changes and corrections in legislation, the subsidy system, and the upgrading of the market qualifications in the area of fire protection already adopted by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration (MSWiA) within the framework of the Integrated Qualification System. Introduction: In 2024 alone, there were more than 30,000 interventions by the fire department related to residential fires, in which 294 people died as a result of the fire and 53 were poisoned by carbon monoxide. Between 2019 and 2023, approximately 30,000-32,000 residential fires occurred annually. This situation highlights the very important and current problem of incidents in private homes and prompts the search for new preventive solutions. Methodology: While working on the article, the author used an analysis of available legislation, statistics of Central Statistical Office (GUS) and State Fire Service (PSP). He also used his knowledge and experience gained from working on free market qualifications in the area of fire protection, as well as through participation in social campaigns and membership in the structures of the Volunteer Fire Brigades and from working with the Youth Fire Teams, and finally the experience of 10 years of professional work in the research institute of the State Fire Service. Conclusions: The Ministry of Internal Affairs can play a key role in shaping prevention policy by introducing new regulations and promoting the Integrated Qualification System (ZSK) in fire protection. One of the most important aspects of these measures may be the provision of standards for the installation of certified carbon monoxide, smoke and gas detectors, which is a complementary element of the current nationwide campaigns “Detector to guard your safety” and “Smoke detector under every thatch”, promoted by both the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, the State Fire Service and the General Board of the Association of Volunteer Fire Brigades of the Republic of Poland. The regulation, amended in 2024, makes the use of fire and carbon monoxide detection devices universally mandatory. According to the author, however, neither the change in regulations nor the promotion of detectors in the form of as many as two simultaneous public campaigns will achieve the expected results without parallel preparation in adequate strength of competent (certified) resources of fitters of these devices. The implementation of uniform standards for the installation and operation of detectors is desirable both in the ranks of PSP officers and OSP rescuers, and above all in the social groups of dependent citizens. Keywords: prevention, autonomous detector, service certification, free market qualification, fire protection devices