Annual Training of Ukrainian Red Cross Emergency Response Teams Concludes
The annual nationwide training for Ukrainian Red Cross emergency response team volunteers has recently concluded in the Lviv region. Over the course of three days, more than 120 volunteers from across Ukraine — including those from frontline regions — took part in intensive training designed to enhance their preparedness for responding to emergencies.
The training was carried out in close cooperation with specialists from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Participants included representatives from the Department for the Organisation of Work and Use of Unmanned Systems and Robotics, as well as the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service in the Lviv region.
The programme covered a wide range of topics relevant to emergency response team operations during crises. In particular, participants received practical training in:
- Transporting casualties in challenging conditions
- Providing assistance in cases of multiple injuries
- Evacuation, triage, and coordination with medical services
- Responding to fires, shelling, and other hazards
- Basics of using firefighting equipment
- Psychological first aid
- Rope techniques and mountaineering basics
- Effective communication during emergencies
Special attention was given to working with technical equipment: thanks to the expertise of State Emergency Service specialists, volunteers acquired basic skills in operating drones — a tool increasingly used in search and rescue operations.
The training concluded with team competitions, in which 16 volunteer teams competed across 16 categories, ranging from theoretical knowledge to complex practical scenarios. The participants demonstrated their ability to act swiftly, cohesively, and professionally, even in the most unpredictable situations.
This type of training is an essential part of preparing emergency response teams. It enables volunteers to acquire new knowledge, share experiences, practise coordinated actions, and strengthen cooperation with professional first responders.
The Ukrainian Red Cross remains committed to developing a training system for its volunteers, ensuring they are highly prepared to face humanitarian challenges and save lives under the most demanding conditions.
