Ambulance vehicles for the evacuation, first aid and transport of wounded civilians in eastern Ukraine
Situation:
The occupation of large parts of Kherson Oblast caused major damage to the civilian infrastructure. The already poor emergency care was therefore massively impaired, especially in small communities and especially near the front. The vehicle is traveling in an area in which around 30,000 people now live spread across many small towns and villages. After the end of the occupation, more and more people are returning to their old homeland. Although the occupation is over, people in the region still face regular attacks. Attacks by drones in particular occur, in which civilian vehicles or residential buildings are repeatedly targeted. The nearest hospital is about 40 minutes' drive away, there was no rescue or ambulance and several small towns and villages share a fire engine. Many people who remained there even under the occupation had no access to medical care; be it due to the destroyed doctor's offices, the lack of travel options to the doctor or the lack of emergency services. In particular, the initial care of those injured in war requires rapid and high-quality initial care in order to minimize, avert consequential damage or even avoid the death of the patient.
Objectives:
- Basic medical care for civilians.
- The implementation of qualified patient transport as part of emergency care to a health facility as well as transfers between treatment facilities.
- Participation in emergency care during major disasters and evacuations
- There was currently no ambulance in the project region. Further damage to civilian infrastructure caused by the war and the former occupation of the region.
- The vehicle was purchased in Germany, transferred to Ukraine and put into service there.
- Since commissioning, regular operations/medical transports have been carried out, taking the security situation into account.
- Planning the type of vehicle and the exact medical equipment together with the medical staff on site. The vehicle and the equipment had to be adapted primarily to the local conditions. Above all, longer care times and increased possible injuries caused by the war must be taken into account (approx. 2 weeks).
- Procurement of the vehicle, medical equipment and consumables, as well as the transfer of the vehicle to Ukraine. Upon handover, the staff was briefed and the exact location of the vehicle (within the towns) was planned. (approx. 3 months)
- Regular use of the vehicle in emergency rescue and patient transport (since June 2024).
The vehicle allows injured and sick people to receive targeted medical care more quickly. This means that consequential damage can be reduced and the already strained supply structures can be spared. The nearest hospitals are on average around 40 minutes away. Those affected sometimes had to wait a long time for initial medical care. Even for people with physical limitations, the distance would be difficult to manage. The vehicle's equipment is comparable to that of the rescue service. This ensures the high quality of initial care.
Use of the vehicle in eastern Ukraine. Therefore, the project was carried out under the conditions of war.
