About 200 military personnel underwent advanced training in tactical medicine thanks to support from Oschad and MasterCard

194 servicemen from various units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine underwent CLS (Combat Lifesaver) level training in tactical medicine. During two months, 50 training days (10 trainings) were held, which are equal to 400 hours of training, and more than 5,000 tourniquets were applied. These trainings were conducted by the PULSE charitable foundation, which develops tactical medicine in Ukraine, with the financial support of Oschadbank and Mastercard.

"The full-scale war increases the requirements for learning and training of Defense Forces fighters in tactical medicine. In conditions of heavy fighting and transparency of the battlefield, evacuation may be delayed. To save life and health, it is important to have more advanced skills than those provided by basic training. Teaching effectively is a complex, long, and expensive process. We are grateful to our partners for the fact that together we were able to train 194 military personnel who, if necessary, will save the lives of their comrades," said Fedir Serdyuk, co-founder of PULSE.

As part of the "My Accessibility" program, Oschadbank raises the issue of inclusion and accessibility, and works together with partners not only to overcome the consequences, but also to minimize the impact of the root causes. Quality battlefield first aid training saves lives and helps keep our soldiers healthy. During Combat Lifesaver level training, a variety of skills are scrutinized, not only for the treatment of limb injuries by applying a tourniquet, but also for the conversion and movement of the wounded, thereby preventing further limb amputations.

"The timely and accurate provision of first aid on the battlefield has the potential to save the life of a wounded combatant during the critical first 60 minutes,”the golden hour”, thereby preventing his amputation. We at Oschad try to comprehensively help and support defenders, which is why we joined the initiative, thanks to which our soldiers were able to take a course in tactical medicine for free," comments Anton Tiutiun, deputy chairman of the board of Oschadbank.

Conversion is a manipulation that involves replacing the tourniquet with other bleeding control methods, including tamponade and bandage fixation. The tourniquet is the fastest method of controlling massive bleeding from the limbs, but it is also quite aggressive: prolonged use of the tourniquet is associated with the risk of amputation.

Such cases occurred quite often at the beginning of a full-scale invasion. Based on the experience of the Russian-Ukrainian war, when the rule of the "golden hour", during which it is necessary to start providing qualified medical assistance, does not always work, and numerous amputations due to prolonged or completely inappropriate use of tourniquets, the conversion skill was moved from the medical level to the level of nonmedical workers, in particular on rescue fighters and other properly trained personnel. This is reflected in the training materials on tactical medicine according to TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care) standards, and in the 441st order of the Ministry of Health, and in the methodological recommendations of the Command of the Medical Forces.

"Unlike previous situations, when I was just a helping hand in providing first aid in case of an injury, now I am sure that I can do it all myself and save a person," says serviceman Vlad (Pei) after completing the course.