Training of Ukrainian medics in advanced life-saving procedures and battlefield medicine has begun

The ongoing war in Ukraine means the risk of loss of life and serious injury. The consequence of this situation is a very high demand for rapid and often highly specialized medical assistance already at the pre-hospital stage. Therefore, all the time there is an urgent need to train medical personnel in Ukraine.

To meet the demand presented by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Air Ambulance, together with the Warsaw Medical University with the support of the "Let's Live Healthy" Foundation, implement training in providing advanced medical assistance to patients in a state of immediate medical emergency, taking into account the specifics and realities in which civilian medics may find themselves.

As part of an initiative by the Warsaw Medical University, the Air Ambulance Service and the "Let's Live Healthy" Foundation, steps have been taken resulting in the implementation of a project aimed at training in Poland Ukrainian doctors, feldsmen and nurses, medical rescue units, working on a daily basis in zones where military operations are directly taking place, and those carrying out medical transport of the most seriously injured patients from the war zone to safer medical centers in western Ukraine.

The project is being carried out under the honorary patronage of the Spouse of the President of the Republic of Poland, Mrs. Agata Kornhauser-Duda. The First Lady visited medics from Ukraine during one of the trainings.

I hope that the knowledge and skills gained during the courses in Poland will help develop the Ukrainian health care system. I am convinced that the time spent in our country will promote the exchange of experience," she said. 

Agata Kornhauser-Duda also referred to her numerous contacts with Ukrainian women since the war began. She noted the issue of difficulties in receiving psychological help. She noted that many people make efforts to get such care for their children, but do not use the support of specialists themselves - considering it a sign of weakness, for fear of stigmatization. The First Lady encouraged people to reach out for help from mental health professionals. 

I am glad that during this training you have the opportunity to receive professional psychological support and participate in therapeutic workshops," she noted. 

Agata Kornhauser-Duda talked to the women about, among other things, the professional challenges of working under special conditions. She also asked about ways to cope with these crisis circumstances and the source of strength to carry the aid despite the heavy physical and mental burden. She expressed the hope that the experiences of the past months will help improve critical areas of the state's operation and will not only prepare programs for returning to normalcy after the war, but will also serve to develop new and better forms of cooperation and dealing with crisis situations in the future. 

Training began on September 11 and will be carried out in three rounds.

The program of the 50-hour course involves the implementation of emergency medicine and elements related to management on the battlefield and/or in a situation of imminent terrorist threat (TCCC - Tactical Combat Casualty Care).

The main objective of the training is to familiarize civilian female doctors and feldspersons from Ukraine with the principles of behavior in situations of immediate danger, e.g. shelling, bombing, "active shooter", as well as to acquire by the participants practical skills of supplying the injured as a result of shelling, bomb explosion or traffic accident. The specificity of the training is focused primarily on practical activities, in the part that simulates real events with the use of clinical and environmental semblance.

In addition - taking into account the peculiarities and conditions of the work of Ukrainian medical personnel, characterized by a high level of stress, direct threat of loss of health or life, and contact with a very large number of victims
with drastic injuries - there is a very high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reactions in these individuals. post-traumatic stress disorder). Taking these issues into account, an additional element of the course also includes workshops
with a psychologist/psychotherapist who provides training and equips participants with tools for self-therapy for this type of condition.

Main objectives of the course:

1. Improve skills in medical team dynamics, algorithms for sudden cardiac arrest and knowledge of the post-resuscitation care system.
2. Training of managers and members of resuscitation teams on proper management of cardiac arrest in adults
   and in children.
3. To raise the level in recognizing patients at risk of cardiac arrest. Identifying the cause and implementing measures to prevent the occurrence of cardiac arrest.
4. Teaching participants the procedures and policies to provide care to a casualty on the battlefield or terrorist attack.
5. Raise the level of knowledge of trainees in the management
   of a large number of casualties, taking into account a terrorist threat situation, including elements of the CBRN threat and the use of the SALT medical segregation protocol.
6. Equip you with the knowledge and tools for self-therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

It should be emphasized that the projects and trainings carried out so far, as well as the opinions generated by the participants themselves, are of great value to them, and, above all, provide an opportunity to use the acquired knowledge and skills in their daily professional work.

Source: WUM/President.pl