On October 26, a training on the basics of tactical medicine and disaster medicine was held at the Department of EMS of the Medical Faculty #2 of UzhNU. The trainer was Tony McCarthy, a retired U.S. Army officer and instructor in combat tactics and medicine. This volunteer event was held with the support of the InterFamily clinic and the Center for Family Medicine and Prevention of UzhNU.

The training was conducted in English with partial translation into Ukrainian. During 1.5 hours, Tony vividly demonstrated the main points of the MARCH protocol and shared many practical nuances and tricks acquired over the years of his service. As he himself noted, he came to teach both the latest techniques and the “old-school” practices that have worked for centuries and remain relevant today.

The event was attended by more than 20 participants. Most of them were students of UzhNU, both future doctors and applicants for non-medical specialties, both Ukrainians and foreigners. All those present were able to practice assembling and properly using the tourniquet, learn about ways to check airway patency, and much more. It was a surprise for many that a piece of sheet can be used to stop bleeding in an emergency, and the victim’s shoes can be used as a splint for mobilizing the neck.

During the event, there were many questions and heated discussions. The participants took away a lot of practical and relevant information from the training. First and foremost, they learned about their own safety, which the trainer also paid a lot of attention to.