15th War and Disaster Medicine Conference focuses on disaster medicine training

TALLINN – The 15th War and Disaster Medicine Conference was held in cooperation with the US Army's Medical Readiness Command, Europe at the Estonian National Museum in Tartu with a focus on war and disaster medicine training, simulations, exercises, trauma management, clinical cases, management theories and team training. 

"When it comes to war and disaster medicine, it is not possible to draw a line between military and civilian systems. It is all the more important to have cooperation, mutual understanding and exchange of experience," Lt. Hele-Reet Lille, head of the support and development department of the Military Academy's war and disaster medicine center and organizer of the conference, said.

"This conference is intended namely for those who contribute to crisis medicine and is a valuable opportunity to exchange experience and knowledge and expand one's network with specialists from Estonia and allied countries with experience from conflict areas, healthcare crises and directly from the battlefield, like our colleagues from Ukraine," she said.

Over the course of the two days of the conference, presentations were made by experts from Ukraine, Luxembourg, Finland, Norway, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Georgia and Estonia.

In addition to the presentations, the participants could also visit the field hospital of the defense forces, inspect medical equipment and technology as well as take part in practical workshops such as stopping bleeding, first aid on the battlefield and the earliest possible ultrasound diagnostics. It was also possible to participate in the conference virtually in real time.

The conference saw nearly 800 participants, including military and civilian medics, medical students of the University of Tartu, students of the health care colleges of Tallinn and Tartu, employees of the Police and Border Guard Board and the Rescue Board, representatives of ministries and civilian hospitals as well as other interested parties from Estonia and abroad.

The conference, which is held annually, is organized by the Military Academy's war and disaster medicine center, which is engaged in war and disaster medicine research and development in Estonia. The center also conducts war and disaster medicine training for the defense forces, medical students and other cooperation partners from Estonia and abroad.