It has been nearly two years since the formation of the PRR and one year since the signing of a cooperation agreement with the ERC. It was then that Poland joined the countries that had agreed to follow the most up-to-date guidelines of education in resuscitation and resuscitation itself.

The First International Congress of PRR was held in Krakow on 22-25 May, 2003 under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland.

The scientific sessions were proceeded by a Grand Meeting of Members the PRR, where an annual report was presented and accepted. There are eleven working groups at present:

1. Basic Life Support Group

2. Advanced Life Support Group

3. Paediatric Life Support Group

4. Acute Coronary Syndromes Group

5. Stroke Group

6. Resuscitation in Trauma Group

7. Out-of-Hospital Resuscitation Group

8. In-Hospital Resuscitation Group

9. Experimental and Clinical Trials Group

10. Teaching and Education Group

11. Post-resuscitation Care Group

Exceptional activity was showed by the ALS, Education and Out-of-Hospital Groups.
The PRR has organised so far thirteen ALS Provider Courses and two Instructor Courses. Since the beginning of 2003 ALS Provider Courses have been taught in Polish, by Polish ERC Instructors. To the date of the Congress 351 candidates had been trained as ALS Providers. There are 23 Polish ERC Instructors and 22 Instructor Candidates.

The scientific sessions were held in the building of Krakow's Academy of Economics. There were 500 participants, mostly physicians. The majority were anaesthetists, intensivists, emergency medicine physicians, cardiologists, surgeons and paediatricians. There were also nurses, medical students and 21 foreign guests, 16 of which invited from Ukraine. There were 13 lecture sessions, spoken in Polish or English. There were also practical workshops and poster sessions, where 35 papers were presented. The scientific content covered cardiac arrest in adults and children, acute respiratory failure, stroke, acute coronary syndromes and trauma. A many delegates were drawn to the visiting lecturers: Prof. Leo Bossaert from Belgium, Prof. Peter Baskett from the UK and Prof. Roger White from the USA. There was also great interest in the outstanding lectures of our own renowned Polish professors.

Honorary membership of the PRR was granted to Prof. Z. Rondio, Prof. P. Baskett, Prof. L. Bossaert and Aleksander Kwasniewski, the President of the Polish Republic.

In the social programme the participant could see one of Molier's theatrical pieces and a performance of a renowned Krakow's cabaret Piwnica pod Baranami. The congress banquet was held outside Krakow in the former Royal Palace of Niepolomice. The excellent meal was preceded by a performance by mediaeval knights in combat.