The Ministry of Defence has adopted new premedical care training standards for military personnel

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has approved new standards for premedical care (first aid) training that will enhance the competence of military personnel in providing first aid during combat and extreme situations.

The document includes two main standards: 

• Common standard for premedical care (first aid) training;

• Common standard for premedical care (first aid) training of expanded basic level.

This first standard is designed primarily for use in basic military training. It covers instruction for providing first aid in critical hemorrhage, impaired breathing, chest, head, and eye injuries, burns, and fractures. The standard also includes the prevention of hypothermia, the use of an individual set of medicines, and the rules for evacuating causalities.

This second standard expands upon the first, providing more comprehensive knowledge and skills. It is designed for premedical care (first aid) training delivered to combat medics and their counterparts, including military specialists who serve as officers and NCOs. The training modules, lasting six hours or more, focus on providing care in adverse environments, techniques for moving casualties to shelter, ensuring airway patency, assessing and maintaining breathing and circulation, as well as aspects of care during evacuation.

Under both standards, training consists of lectures with multimedia aids, small group practical sessions, and simulation activities in the field that mirror real combat environments. To enhance learning, certified instructors should utilize evidence-driven and explanatory methods supplemented by interactive tools like computers and educational mobile applications.

Knowledge and skills will be evaluated using specialized forms integrating theoretical questions with hands-on tasks. Service members with high potential may be recommended for advanced professional training in medical military specialties.

“We listen to the needs of the frontline, and one of those is high-quality training. It is important to establish clear regulations regarding the skills and knowledge needed to successfully provide premedical care (first aid). We have developed new standards, taking into account the unique combat experience of our medics and soldiers gained in the fight against russian aggression, as well as the standards of our partner countries. Thanks to the Ministry of Defence's adoption of this practice, service members will gain valuable practical knowledge and skills, which are crucial for saving lives on the battlefield,” said Oksana Sukhorukova, Head of the Health Department of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.