New training course, ‘Tactical Medicine,’ introduced in Army+ app

The Army+ app has launched a new training course, ‘Tactical Medicine.’ It teaches basic battlefield first aid skills and will help service members save their own lives and those of their comrades in critical situations.

Knowledge of tactical medicine offers the chance to save lives, since every minute is critical in the event of a wound. The course contains only the essentials, from how to stop bleeding to preparing a wounded person for evacuation.

Across 11 modules and 29 lessons, the course addresses the key topics of tactical medicine:

• The MARCH algorithm and its application;
• Massive hemorrhage control using tourniquets, hemostatic dressings for wound packing, and emergency trauma dressings (pressure dressings);
• Airway management and treatment of chest injuries;
• Blood circulation control, shock recognition and management, and monitoring the casualty’s level of consciousness;
• Management of burns, fractures, eye injuries, and head trauma;
• Hypothermia prevention;
• Use of the Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) and the PILL PACK;
• Preparing the casualty for evacuation and passing information to medics;

Each module comprises brief video tutorials that demonstrate practical tactical-medicine procedures. After each module, there are assessment tasks. At the end, a test is conducted, after which service members receive an electronic certificate.

The course is delivered by tactical medicine instructors from the 4th Separate Medical Battalion. 

The Army+ app was developed by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Center for Scaling Technological Solutions.