Regular Training as a Guarantee of Safety: EAST SOS Teams Completed First Aid Training

Two EAST SOS field teams completed two-day training sessions on providing first aid in emergency and wartime conditions.

The reconstruction team restores damaged homes in Izium, which is regularly affected by russian shelling. Our specialists based in Mykolaiv provide assistance within the hromadas of Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts and carry out field visits to support people affected by russian attacks. In such circumstances, first aid skills are an absolute necessity, which is why EAST SOS organizes training sessions for its field teams every six months. These skills must not only be learned but also regularly practiced.

At the beginning of June, two EAST SOS teams completed two-day training sessions. On June 4–5, 16 specialists from the regional team in Mykolaiv took part, and on June 8–9, the reconstruction team in Izium completed the training.

The training program combined brief theoretical modules with continuous hands-on practice. The program covered everything from the MARCH algorithm and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to casualty evacuation, with participants immediately practicing every step. The training ended with realistic simulation exercises designed to be as close to real-life conditions as possible. During the exercises, participants had to quickly assess the situation, assign roles, and make decisions.

“The trainers explained everything in a simple, clear way, but the most valuable part was the practice. We discussed different situations and immediately practiced how to act in order to help a person. This kind of training gives you more than just knowledge, but also confidence in your own actions. I am already looking forward to the next training session to reinforce and sharpen these skills,” said Andrii Popov, construction worker with EAST SOS’s reconstruction team.

Caring for the training of our specialists means caring for the people who may one day be nearby and need help. That is why we keep learning and sharpening our first aid skills in order to be responsible members of society.

The training sessions were implemented as part the project “MESH: Multisectoral Emergency Support for High-Severity Hromadas” by the EAST SOS Charity Foundation, coordinated by the Right to Protection Charitable Foundation and supported by the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF).

Recently, EAST SOS psychologists conducted a burnout prevention training for humanitarian workers.