The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
Pashtet is a combat medic of the 2nd Operational Purpose Battalion Vanguard of the Rubizh Brigade. He joined the unit more than a year ago as an ordinary infantryman. After being wounded and completing training, the soldier replaced his rifle with a medical backpack and began saving the lives of his brothers-in-arms at the most critical moments of battle.
The Rubizh Brigade published the hero’s story.
A cool head is the main tool of a medic
According to Pashtet, the work of a combat medic requires maximum concentration and strict adherence to algorithms.
He admits that he is not afraid of blood or injuries — perhaps because his mother works in medicine. The medic emphasizes that the key task is to quickly identify critical injuries according to the MARCH protocol and not be distracted by secondary trauma.
A small wound with arterial bleeding can be much more dangerous than a visually severe but non-lethal injury.
Tactical medicine is the duty of every soldier
Pashtet stresses that every servicemember must have knowledge of tactical medicine. In combat, it is first aid that determines whether a wounded person will survive until evacuation.
According to him, about 70% of the wounded arrive with properly rendered first aid.
During contact, a tourniquet is applied as high as possible, and already in cover medics reassess the condition.
“The first rescuer is you yourself and your brother-in-arms. If you neglect training or equipment, the consequences can be tragic”, — the medic emphasizes.
An evacuation that will be remembered forever
One of the most difficult cases for Pashtet was the evacuation of a soldier with a traumatic amputation and multiple shrapnel wounds to the lower body. The wounded man remained conscious for more than an hour and fought for his life.
After pain medication was administered, he lost consciousness — a sign of developing shock. However, already in the operating room, when surgeons began their work, the soldier screamed.
“I thought then: if he is screaming, it means he is alive, it means he will live”, — Pashtet recalls, addressing his brother-in-arms with the call sign Yusk, who endured this ordeal.
When there is no work, it is the best shift
For a combat medic, the best shift is the one during which there are no wounded. This means that the unit is holding its positions and all fighters remain unharmed.
“This is a sign that our guys have held on”, — Pashtet says.
