From June 5 to 8 personnel of the Medical Support Units of Dr Jonas Basanavičius Military Medical Service (MMS) and U.S. Marines conducted a joint military medical training, shared experience and discussed characteristic features of medical assistance in Lithuania in the United States and Lithuania as part of the multinational Exercise BALTOPS 2012.
BALTOPS 2012 involves a medical support element of the U.S. Marine Corps which was introduced to the military medical personnel of Lithuania. Medical Support Element of the U.S. Marine Corps is in full y commissioned in terms of personnel and medical equipment and capable of rendering surgical services and up to 8 operations during 24 hours.
"The training medical personnel exchanged information and knowledge related to the principles of providing medical support in the U.S.A. and in Lithuania, the characteristic features of the medical assistance the U.S. Marines render were introduced. The medical equipment used, medical materials, medicine, and the spectrum of medical services and procedures applied by the Medical Support Unit were analyzed," said Deputy Chief of the Medical Support Units Group of Dr Jonas Basanavičius Military Medical Service.
A joint medical training was organized during BALTOPS 2012: a simulated scenario of medical assistance to the injured, actions in case of mass injuries (classification of the injured, first medical assistance in line with priority order for rendering medical assistance, medical procedures, such as echoscopy, x-ray procedure, estimation of clinical information).
The U.S. and Lithuanian military medics worked in collective teams, exchanged experience, learnt new skills and acquired new knowledge.
MMS personnel were also responsible for ensuring real-life medical assistance throughout the period of the multinational military Exercise BALTOPS 2012: collaborated actively with the civilian healthcare institutions of Klaipėda City, maintained readiness to conduct and coordinate medical airlift in case of such necessity. Three medical search and airlift sections were on a permanent standby to provide medical care for the participants of BALTOPS 2012.
Information and photos provided by MMS
