You may have heard that Ukraine's war against Russia is among the most technologically advanced in the world. This extends beyond weaponry to include life-saving devices. Ukrainian combat medics collect special equipment for months until their vehicles are indeed capable of healing war-delivered wounds.
We have compiled a list of some of the most important equipment that Ukrainian paramedics rely on based on our discussions with Ukrainian volunteers and the needs they fundraise for.
Heated blankets not only keep soldiers warm in their dugouts as chilly weather sets in but are also key to keeping them stable and alive while they await evacuation after being wounded.
As autumn arrives, they will soon be among Ukrainian soldiers’ top demands again.
These blankets emit 38-40°C of heat for 8 hours, helping combat medics preserve the health and life of the wounded during evacuation. Having such a blanket is a must if a soldier is wounded;otherwise, by the time combat medics arrive, there may be no one left to save.
Volunteer Alona Evans, who helps supply medics in frontline units, previously shared that the medics she worked with encountered cases where lives were lost not solely due to the wounds but because of the combined effects of the injuries and significant loss of energy.
Also, the frostbite of the extremities, very frequent at war, easily causes disabilities if not prevented by such a source of warmth.
At the frontline, even blood circulation should not be taken for granted, as combat medics fix this process in soldiers' bodies daily.
With significant blood loss, hypothermia sets in, compounded by the external cold. This condition has resulted in fatalities at the front frequently and also leads to disabilities. If blood circulation is not restored promptly, irreversible damage occurs,
shares Alona Evans based on her talks with paramedics.
Ukrainian combat medics are expertly trained to administer blood or other vital fluids under the most challenging and high-pressure conditions. Thus, they always keep portable infusion heaters in their evacuation vehicles.
Properly warmed blood administered in time prevents hypothermia, while properly warming other infusion fluids accelerates treatment and enhances its effectiveness.
When it comes to blood loss in field conditions, we should distinguish between average and huge blood losses, both of which occur to the wounded. The second case is when dried plasma can prevent death.
Studies have found that hemorrhaging causes about 90% of preventable deaths from combat trauma.
In Ukraine, dried plasma "is used during long evacuation scenarios and significant blood loss, and actual blood is unavailable. That's when plasma saves," explains Tata Kepler, another Ukrainian who outfits combat medical teams.
Dried plasma has a longer shelf life than fresh plasma and is easier to store, making it perfect for frontline medicine. It was first mass-introduced during WWII. However, it remains relatively difficult to procure.
One reason a life that appeared to be stabilized and under control can still be lost is internal bleeding, which portable ultrasound machines help combat medics to detect.
For example, in patients with severe abdominal hemorrhaging, which can be both visible and internal, peak mortality occurs 30 minutes after the wound is sustained. Thus, having a portable ultrasound is especially crucial when evacuation to a hospital might be delayed.
But hemorrhaging is not the only battlefield problem that requires ultrasounds to diagnose. The machines help locate organ damage from explosions, assess the severity of trauma, and identify intra-abdominal injuries.
Sudden cardiac arrest is not a rare event amidst the explosions, regular physical exertion, permanent stress, poor diet, and extreme weather conditions that soldiers experience at the front. Therefore, every Ukrainian combat medic is supposed to be equipped with an automated external defibrillator.
The average Ukrainian soldier is reportedly 43 years old. One study of US Army personnel found that sudden cardiac events primarily affected men between 35 and 49 as a result of intense physical activity. These results are consistent with Ukraine's experience.
Modern mobile defibrillators allow a combat medic to restart a patient's heart before taking further action. However, using the device requires special training, which Ukrainian combat medics regularly undergo.
Moreover, due to the dangers affecting Ukraine's frontline regions, hospitals in rear cities are also equipped with these defibrillators.
Enemy detection on the battlefield is not the only use of thermographic imaging cameras. Ukrainian combat medics also need them to diagnose and assess wounds.
Thermographic images can show the extent and severity of burns commonly sustained in combat. The device can also highlight areas with poor blood circulation, abnormal heat around a wound, or vascular injuries.
Even though such cameras are not as popular among combat medics as among combatants themselves, some Ukrainian medical units purchase them.
Recently, their medical usage was also highlighted by Israel's Sheba Medical Center. "Thermal cameras could become as widespread as stethoscopes, and there could well be devices in the pocket of every doctor," the Center's director argued.
