In February, five of our colleagues from Uzhhorod, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Kharkiv attended a highly important training on first aid and survival basics in hostile environments.

The three-day training was conducted by the Ukrainian School of Rescue with the support of Voice of Romni’s partners — the international humanitarian organization CARE.

The training program was intensive and dynamic. Participants attended lectures and then practiced each stage of providing assistance in real-life scenarios.

Over the course of three days, we learned to:

  • Quickly assess danger and make decisions during shelling or emergencies;
  • Provide first aid for wounds, bleeding, injuries, and loss of consciousness;
  • Use tourniquets, cervical collars, stretchers, and other medical equipment;
  • Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) correctly;
  • Evacuate the wounded in challenging conditions;
  • Operate while wearing protective gear (bulletproof vests and helmets);
  • Use radios and organize communication in critical situations;
  • Navigate checkpoints and respond to mine threats or drone attacks.

Voice of Romni’s regional coordinator in Zaporizhzhia, Mariia Opanasenko, shared that the practical exercises left the strongest impression on her. She also had the opportunity to take on the role of an injured person:

“When I played the role of a motorcycle driver involved in an accident, the team practiced the proper removal of a helmet, applying a cervical collar, immobilization, and transferring using a stretcher.”

Mariia added that she learned how to apply tourniquets, conduct a detailed first aid assessment of an injured person, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) correctly, stop various types of bleeding, and immobilize the head using a cervical collar in case of a spinal injury, among other critical skills.

This training has given our team even greater confidence in responding to emergencies. It is crucial to know how to act in critical situations and provide assistance to those around us. This, in turn, makes us more effective in our work.

“This training was an important step in strengthening safety at our spaces in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Kryvyi Rih. These cities are regularly subjected to missile and bomb attacks and are located near the front line, increasing risks for our staff and visitors. We learned not only how to provide first aid in emergencies but also received essential first aid supplies, including tourniquets, hemostatic agents, splints, and individual medical kits. It is crucial to be prepared to quickly and effectively assist both ourselves and others,” said Roman Serdiuk, Project Manager at Voice of Romni.

This training was incredibly valuable and essential for enhancing the safety of our staff working in frontline regions. The event was made possible thanks to CARE and the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the German Federal Foreign Office.

Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), Deutsche Botschaft Kyjiw