Student of the Silesian University of Technology in the centre of nationwide rescue exercise
On March the 14th, 2026, the Royal Luiza Adit complex in Zabrze, belonging to the Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze, held the National Rescue exercise PCK Silesia 2026 – one of the largest training events in Poland devoted to crisis response and security. The exercise was attended by over 250 rescuers and volunteers from all over the country representing the Polish Red Cross Rescue Groups and specialists from various security areas.
The event was also attended by a student of the Silesian University of Technology – Przemysław Wilk, president of the Student Science Club “Safe Wall,” operating at the Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering, and Industrial Automation.
Simulation of crisis situations
The exercise included a variety of scenarios for responding to crisis events – from actions in urban space to actions carried out in particularly difficult and demanding environments. Some of the exercise tasks took place underground, in conditions similar to those that rescuers might encounter during real events.
The underground workings of the Queen Louise Adit complex are a unique training environment – tight spaces, limited visibility and difficult terrain make it one of the most demanding “training grounds” for emergency services. If the team can operate effectively in such conditions, the more effectively will they cope in many other crisis situations.
During one of the simulations, a student of the Silesian University of Technology acted as a surrogate, playing a person injured in a realistic scenario of a technical accident in an underground excavation.
Learning through experience
Participation in the exercises allowed the student to look at rescue procedures from a completely different perspective – not only the observer, but also the person in the centre of rescue operations.
- New experiences, new acquaintances, and knowledge drawn directly from practitioners. I have found out personally what it looks like in reality. If I have such an opportunity in the future, I will be happy to represent the Faculty and the University- - reports Przemysław Wilk shortly after the end of the exercise.
Such experiences show that safety engineering is not only theoretical knowledge, but above all the ability to operate in real and often very demanding conditions.
Students of the Silesian University of Technology in activities for security
The student’s participation in the exercise is an example of the activity of young engineers, who develop their competences also outside the university walls. The cooperation between academia and organizations such as the Polish Red Cross allows students to gain experience relevant to contemporary security challenges – both local and global.
