The work of PDMSh volunteer medics involves stabilization points, medevacs, and critical care evacuations. It’s a job marked by constant danger, no fixed schedule, and an overwhelming workload. What does a PDMSh rotation on the frontlines look like?
Medevac is an important link in the rescue. Military medics hand over to us the wounded who have just been evacuated directly from the line of combat. We provide them with medical care and stabilize them during transportation to the stabilization point. This is extremely risky work: drones hunting for ambulances, shelling of the highways and constant danger accompany every evacuation.
Stabilization Points: Preparing the Wounded for Transport
Here, surgeons, trauma specialists, anesthesiologists, and nurses work together to stabilize patients. Their efforts include pain management, wound care, surgical debridement, drainage procedures, etc. The primary goal is to ensure the patient is stable enough for transport to a hospital, where they will receive further medical care.
Critical Care Evacuations: A Race Against Time
Transporting severely wounded, unstable patients to hospitals is a complex process requiring specialized equipment and a highly coordinated medical team. These patients need continuous monitoring, oxygen support, and in-transit stabilization—sometimes even emergency resuscitation when their condition deteriorates suddenly. Unfortunately, evacuation routes are frequently targeted by the enemy, making every critical care transport a dangerous mission.
Constant Danger. Drones hunting ambulances, guided bombs striking evacuation routes, and rocket attacks serving as a morning alarm—this is the daily reality. The enemy disregards the red crosses on ambulances, often targeting medics intentionally.
No Schedule, Only Readiness. There are times of relentless work with back-to-back missions, and there are days of waiting—because often, it’s simply impossible to evacuate the wounded due to heavy shelling. But every medic knows they must be ready at all times. A call for help can come at any moment.
How Do Medics Rest? Between missions, they read, watch movies, or embroider. Some write scientific papers, while others continue their medical internships online. But their focus remains unchanged—being prepared for the next evacuation.
This is the reality for PDMSh volunteer medics on the frontlines. It’s hard, often dangerous, but it’s necessary—to save lives!
Reminder: You can support us by donating so that we can continue saving lives. Supporting the PDMSh is saving lives on the frontline.