Combat experience of Ukrainian medics and soldiers determines the standards of premedical training
8 January 2025 14:35
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has updated the standards of training in first aid, which should increase the level of competence of military personnel in providing assistance in combat and extreme conditions. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
As explained in the defense ministry, new standards were formed taking into account the unique combat experience of Ukrainian medics and soldiers gained in the fight against Russian aggression, as well as the standards of partner countries.
“We hear the needs of the frontline, and one of them is quality training. The skills and knowledge required for successful first aid must be regulated. Thanks to the introduction of this practice by the Ministry of Defense, servicemen will gain more relevant practical knowledge and skills that will help save lives on the battlefield,” said Oksana Sukhorukova, Director of the Healthcare Department of the Ministry of Defense.
What are the standards for military training?
Two main standards have been developed:
– a typical standard of training in first aid;
– a standardized standard for advanced basic level first aid training.
The first standard is designed to be used primarily in basic general military training and covers training for critical bleeding, respiratory distress, chest, head and eye injuries, burns and fractures. The standard also includes the prevention of hypothermia, the use of an individualized set of medicines, and the rules for evacuating victims.
The second standard expands the list of knowledge and skills compared to the first, as it is designed to train riflemen and their respective medics, officers and NCOs, and military specialists in first aid. The six-hour training blocks focus on providing care in an adverse environment, techniques for moving casualties to shelter, ensuring airway patency, assessing and maintaining breathing and circulation, and specifics of evacuation care.
How the training and assessment of acquired skills will take place
The Ministry of Defense explained that training under both standards involves lectures with multimedia support, small group workshops, and simulation exercises in the field with a simulated combat situation. Certified instructors should use informative and evidentiary, explanatory and illustrative methods, as well as interactive tools, including computer equipment and mobile learning applications.
The assessment of knowledge and skills will be carried out with the help of special sheets combining theoretical questions and practical tasks. Servicemen who demonstrate high potential may be recommended for further professional training in medical military specialties.
Mobile app helps to master first aid skills
A few months ago, Lviv-based developers launched LifesaverSIM, the first Ukrainian mobile game simulator for training tactical medicine and first aid skills. All Ukrainians, regardless of their geographical location, can get full access to the simulator by confirming their citizenship through the Diia app.
The training takes place in a dynamic environment with realistic graphics, and everyone will be able to apply a tourniquet, tamponade wounds and perform all the necessary actions according to the MARCH protocol.
LifesaverSIM was created by members of Brave1, a Defense Tech development support cluster in Ukraine for the Defense Forces. The developers integrated the Verification Action to give Ukrainians free access.
