LPR begins training Ukrainian medics

The training initiative was inaugurated at a press conference attended by Robert Gałązkowski, the Director of LPR, Adam Niedzielski, the Polish Minister of Health, Jacek Siewiera, Head of the National Security Bureau, and Irina Mykychak, the Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Health.

The initiative was created through the collaboration of Agata Kornhauser-Duda and Olena Zelenska, the First Ladies of Poland and Ukraine, respectively, and ultimately aims to train 550 Ukrainian medics.

The scheme aims to address the high demand for trained medical personnel from the Ukrainian military, particularly for the medical evacuation (medevac) of wounded soldiers and civilians within the war zone.

As a longer-term goal, the project also aims to lay the groundwork for the establishment of a permanent Ukrainian air ambulance service in the country once peace returns.

A mix of theory and practical training

The LPR training course includes both theoretical and practical training, and will be carried out over 10 days. The curriculum will cover:

• Human resources management for HEMS crews, with an emphasis on the principles of ‘effective communication and cooperation’
• Operating procedures used in HEMS missions
• Medical procedures, including the standardization of medical equipment, specialized patient protection in various health emergencies, including highly specialized procedures at various stages of the mission – such as how to manage cardiac arrests and conduct endotracheal intubation, how to use a checklist, and how to tackle various other medical problems while in flight
• Workshops on evacuation from a helicopter with a patient in the event of an emergency, including from a smoky cabin
• Practical exercises covering the preparation and evacuation of patients from war zones, and
• Familiarization with the above training using a flight simulator.

The course is being carried out by LPR’s regular medical and flight training instructors.

LPR’s Deputy Director of Medical Affairs, Adam Burakowski, spoke to AirMed&Rescue for our November 2022 Provider Profile.