4 March 2022: St John Ambulance is today sending lifesaving equipment into Ukraine and issuing new first aid advice for serious injuries, as conflict escalates in the country.
The health and first aid charity is shipping 12,000 tourniquets used to stem blood loss in limb injuries, along with additional medical supplies, with more to follow where possible.
In addition, the charity’s medical and training experts have created online resources, how-to guides translated into Ukrainian and Russian, showing how to deal with injuries such as gunshot wounds, burns and broken bones, that can be shared via social media.
St John’s chief executive officer, Martin Houghton-Brown, said: “Our response to this humanitarian crisis uses our longstanding expertise in saving lives through first aid to provide vital support for people within Ukraine.
“While St John does not have a branch in either Ukraine or Russia, St John Ambulance has volunteers and employees in England who come from those countries, or who have family members and other loved ones affected by this conflict.
“Together, we have been moved by news reports and first-hand accounts from the region and we are determined to support where we can.
“As part of St John International, we also recognise the efforts of our sister organisations The Johanniter and The Order of Malta in providing vital help on the ground in Ukraine.
“In addition to practical support through sharing knowledge and sending vital equipment that could save lives in Ukraine, we continue to send our thoughts, prayers and support to everyone affected by this terrible conflict.”
St John Ambulance’s new first aid training and advice assets that can be shared online and via social media channels are available here.
The first equipment being sent to Ukraine by St John today includes Tourni-Keys – an innovative device that turns a strip of clothing into an improvised tourniquet, as designed by the clinical team at citizenAID – along with additional medical supplies.
PLEASE NOTE: Our response to the crisis in Ukraine is moving at pace and this story will be updated as the situation develops
