Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue

The first attempts to create a mountain rescue service in the partitioned Poland took place in 1909. In 1952, all mountain rescue units started to operate under the GOPR umbrella, with the team responsible for the Tatra Mountains breaking out into its own organization in 1991.{{cite web |url= http://gopr.karkonosze.net.pl/angielski/index.htm|title= The Karkonosze Mountain Rescue Service, GOPR|author= |date= |publisher= |accessdate=2009-12-31}}

Currently, the service is governed by the Polish Parliament's 2011 Act on safety and rescue in mountains and on organized ski areas ({{langx|pl|Ustawa o bezpieczeństwie i ratownictwie w górach i na zorganizowanych terenach narciarskich}}).https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20112081241/U/D20111241Lj.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}} According to this Act, mountain rescue services are financed from the national budget, local budgets, national park entry fees, and other sources, and such services cannot therefore require insurance or charge rescue fees.{{Cite web |last=Raczkowska |first=Małgorzata |date=2016-01-12 |title=Pomoc ratowników GOPR bezpłatna |url=https://prawo.gazetaprawna.pl/artykuly/917116,pomoc-gopr-bezplatna.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723201754/https://prawo.gazetaprawna.pl/artykuly/917116,pomoc-gopr-bezplatna.html |archive-date=2021-07-23 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Gazeta Prawny |language=pl}}

As of December 2022, GOPR had 133 professional rescuers and 826 volunteer rescuers.{{Cite web |last=Anagnostopulu |first=Anna |date=2023-02-06 |title=Narażają życie za najniższą krajową. Tyle zarabiają ratownicy górscy |url=https://businessinsider.com.pl/poradnik-finansowy/zarobki-ratownikow-gorskich-narazaja-zycie-za-najnizsza-krajowa/8pvdmj0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319013748/https://businessinsider.com.pl/poradnik-finansowy/zarobki-ratownikow-gorskich-narazaja-zycie-za-najnizsza-krajowa/8pvdmj0 |archive-date=2023-03-19 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Businessinsider |language=pl}} In order to join the service, each rescuer needs to pass an exam and go through a trial period, during which they already begin to participate in rescue missions. The service has an agreement with Poland's air ambulance team to use its helicopters, though it is also in talks with local authorities and others to procure its own helicopters, which would be adapted specifically for mountain rescue use.{{Cite web |last=Płużek |first=Marcin |date=2019-03-26 |title=Helikopter dla goprowców |url=https://beskidzka24.pl/helikopter-dla-goprowcow/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205051906/https://beskidzka24.pl/helikopter-dla-goprowcow/ |archive-date=2021-12-05 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Beskidzka24.pl – Regionalny Portal: Bielsko-Biała, Cieszyn, Żywiec, Czechowice, Sucha Beskidzka, Wadowice |language=pl-PL}}

GOPR is divided into seven divisions, one for every major mountain range in Poland, and is headquartered in Zakopane. It oversees a total area of 20 410 km², comprising all major mountain ranges in Poland, with the exception of the Tatras, which are managed by a separate team. They maintain 7 200 km of hiking trails and 425 ski objects.{{cite web |author= |date= |title=O GOPR |url=http://www.gopr.pl/index.php?action=ogopr&grupa=-1 |accessdate=2009-12-31 |publisher=Onet}} The corps is divided into the following groups:

• Karkonosze Group
• Bieszczady Group
• Beskidy Group
• Jura Group
• Krynica Group, (Beskid Sądecki, Low Beskids)
• Podhale Group
• Group Wałbrzych - Kłodzko

• TOPR

{{Commons category|Górskie Ochotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe}}

{{Reflist}}

• http://www.gopr.pl/ - an official website

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gorskie Ochotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe}}

Category:Mountain rescue agencies

Category:Emergency services in Poland

Category:Charities based in Poland

Category:1952 establishments in Poland