Since the beginning of winter 179 people froze to death in Poland, 134 in December, 22 in January and  February has taken the death toll to 23. 

Severe frosts, which are to prevail in Poland in the coming days , have led the police to issue special appeals to help elderly people and inform police patrols of any cases of unconscious or sleeping people in parks or underground passages.

In large cities police units patrol places where the homeless may take refuge from the cold, such as parks, vacant building sites or sewers .

The situation is worst in small localities where police patrols are scarce. (ab)