On July 11, 2025, a team of instructors from Poltava State Medical University, consisting of Senior Instructor Serhii Kononenko and Junior Instructor Danylo Ovcharenko, conducted a practical first aid training session for 16 fitness trainers from SportLife Club in Poltava. The training took place within the framework of the international educational project LIFESTRAND (ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE), which aims to enhance the emergency preparedness of the civilian population.

In the context of wartime, when threats to life have become part of everyday reality, the ability to provide timely and effective first aid is not just a valuable skill — it is a vital necessity. For this reason, the training program was designed to be highly practical and focused on real-life challenges that both fitness trainers and gym visitors may encounter. Fitness club trainers are responsible for the safety of hundreds of clients daily. Their readiness to respond to emergencies is critically important.

Participants learned essential life-saving techniques, including Basic Life Support (BLS), control of severe bleeding using tourniquets, immobilization of injured limbs, and appropriate actions in cases of stroke, heart attack, seizures, and airway obstruction. Special attention was given to the tactical management of penetrating chest and abdominal wounds, where correct actions can mean the difference between life and death.

The hands-on component of the training was supported by the use of state-of-the-art simulation equipment purchased under the LIFESTRAND project. Participants practiced team-based response algorithms in high-stress, realistic scenarios.

At the end of the training cycle, participants shared their impressions, reflected on the challenges, expressed readiness to apply the acquired knowledge in their daily work, and received certificates of completion.