(P1-67) Collaboration of Military and Civil EMS during Russian Georgian War 2008

Abstract

Introduction

During 2008 Russian Federation realized major aggression against its direct neighbor, the sovereign republic of Georgia. It was Russia's attempt to crown its long time aggressive politics by force, using military forces. EMS physicians from Tbilisi went to the Gori district on August 8 at first light, 14 brigades were sent. At noontime of August 8, their number was increased up to 40. 6 brigades of disaster medicine experts joined them as well.

Results

Destination site for the beginning was the village Tkviavi, where a military field hospital was assembled and a Military Hospital in Gori. Later 6 brigades were withdrawn towards the village Avnevi. During fighting, wounded victims were evacuated from the battlefield, where initial triage was done. Evacuated victims were brought to the military hospital where the medical triage, emergency medical care and transportation to Gori military hospital or to Tbilisi hospitals was done. A portion of the wounded was directly taken to Gori military hospital and later to different civil hospitals in Tbilisi. Corpses were transported to Gori morgue as well. On August 9, the emergency care brigades and field hospital left Tkviavi and moved to the village Karaleti, then to Gori. On August 12, the occupied territory was totally evacuated by civil and military medical personnel. Although withdrawal of wounded was done on following days. Up to 2232 military and civil persons were assisted by EMS brigades during war period (8–12 August), from them 721 patients were transported among which 120 were severely injured.

Conclusion

Close collaboration between military and civil EMS gave the system opportunity to work in an organized manner. On the battlefield prepared military rescuers were active taking out wounded victims to the field or front-line hospitals from which civil emergency care brigades transported them to Tbilisi hospitals. Only 3 fatalities occurred during transportation.