This Year, Doctors and Paramedics of the Mines Rescue Service Will Descend the Pit in New Outfits

OSTRAVA – If in a mine you come across a person in dark blue trousers and an electric-red jacket with distinctive yellow reflexive stripes, make way for them! It is either a Mines Rescue Service doctor or paramedic, in a hurry to reach a place of accident or a miner who started to feel unwell. The front of the blouse features a first aid cross sign and the back an inscription of the Ostrava Mines Rescue Service.

The newly introduced outfit of the health emergency staff of the Main Mines Rescue Station in Ostrava to replace the green shirt used so far is a bright orange T-shirt with a blue life star, a symbol of the emergency medical services.

“The new outfit, the appearance of which has been inspired by the outfit of emergency medical services is tougher and more durable than the existing ones. However, above all, it should clearly indicate who a doctor or a paramedic is, both during the action in the mine and after arrival at hospital. After resurfacing, the paramedics are often as dirty as the miners and the hospital staff will immediately know, who a doctor or a paramedic is and whom to address to,“ Jaroslav Suchel, Deputy Director for Economics of the HBZS explained the role of the new work clothes of the Mines Rescue Service personnel.

At present, rescue workers of the Main Mines Rescue Station and Plant Mines Rescue Stations use four types of workwear. In addition to the outfit intended for health emergencies, there exists a regular black outfit identical to that worn by the miners. Rescue workers wear it for regular operations in the mine. Another type of rescue apparel also consists of a black fatigue overall with a thermal suede lining, with a type designation of Climber III. It is mainly used for activities on the surface, such as climbing operations, commercial work or work in cold weather. This year, for example, it proved its worth in wintertime to remove snow and icicles from the roofs of the buildings.

Finally, the apparel that protects against flash fire exposure is the most basic and most important garment of mine rescue workers. It is orange and used for all acute operations in the mines, fires and other hazardous events. This coverall with a hood also contains a special pair of shows, gloves, a face-guard and underwear. The face is protected with a facemask that is a part of the respirator accessories. In the OKD, around 700 flash-fire proof suits are available for all the mine rescue workers.

“State-of-the-art flash-fire proof suits are made of a fabric called Nomex III, developed within the scope of the space programs and manufactured from special microfibers. The same material is used for making protective garments e.g. for fire fighters or Formula 1 pilots. On a short-term basis, it can resist a temperature around a thousand centigrades. It is important that, in combination with an appropriate underwear, it provides sufficient protection from any flames and it does not stick to the skin,“ Ladislav Békeš, a HBZS shift technician, describes the characteristics of the flash-fire proof suit of the rescue workers.

(Bohuslav Krzyžanek)

New apparel of the Mines Rescue Service doctors and paramedics:

• Dark blue trousers with distinctive yellow reflexive stripes
• An electric-red jacket with distinctive yellow reflexive stripes, featuring a first aid cross sign on the front and an inscription of the Ostrava Mines Rescue Service on the back.
• A bright orange T-shirt with a blue star of life, a symbol of the emergency medical services