Open-Air Artillery Strike in a Rural Area: A Hypothetical Scenario

The escalation of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, characterized by the deployment of conventional weapon systems, inflicts significant morbidity and mortality on the victims. It is imperative to ascertain optimal medical practices and disaster response strategies throughout the battlefield to minimize casualties and safeguard the well-being of medical and disaster responders. The challenges posed by large-scale battlefield threats can rapidly overwhelm healthcare providers due to the sheer number of victims, which can result in the depletion of medical supplies and insufficient training and resources. To address these issues, we utilized the SIMEDIS simulator to establish and implement a battlefield scenario involving an open-air artillery strike in a field. Mortality rates were calculated based on the application of bleeding control measures and the distribution policy for allocating victims to medical treatment facilities. Controlling hemorrhage remains the most crucial factor influencing mortality outcomes.