The VIII All-Russian First Aid Olympiad ‘Save and Save’ was held at the Dagestan State Medical University on 24 April. The Olympiad was attended by 16 teams from universities and colleges from different regions of the Russian Federation: Bashkir State Medical University, Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University, Ryazan State Medical University named after I.P. Pavlov.

A.A. Kadyrov, Dagestan State Technical University, Dagestan State Medical University, Kislovodsk Medical College, College of Digital Technologies and Information Security of Dagestan State University of National Economy, Derbent Medical College named after G.A. Ilizarov, Khasavyurt Medical College, Republican Multiprofile Medical College, Caspian Medical School named after A. Aliyev, DSMU Medical College.

The Olympiad started on 24 April with the first competitive task — solving practical problems. This stage was held in the morning in the Scientific and Educational Innovation Centre of DSMU.

The grand opening of the Olympiad took place after completion of the first stage.

Elmira Akhmedova, Vice-Rector for Academic Work, addressed the participants of the Olympiad with a welcoming speech on behalf of the Rector of DSMU Visampasha Khanaliev. ‘We cordially welcome all participants of the Olympiad, all jury members, all organisers and chaperones. Each Olympiad has an important meaning in the life of the university. On behalf of the rector I wish you, all participants positive emotions; that you represent your universities at the highest level. Let you have the most positive emotions from the Olympiad. Have a good day!’, — Elmira Akhmedova said in her speech.

Nabi Kurayev, chief doctor of the Dagestan Centre for Disaster Medicine, also came to greet the participants of the big event: ‘On behalf of the health care of the Republic of Dagestan, on behalf of the staff of the Dagestan Centre for Disaster Medicine, I congratulate you on your participation in such a large scale Olympics. Such events train to rescue victims and provide them with first aid. Good luck to everyone in the competitions’.

Retired Airborne Forces Colonel Magaram Alidzhanov, Chairman of the Dagestan Veterans Council, also came to meet with the participants of the Olympics. ‘On behalf of the many thousands of veterans of the Republic of Dagestan, I welcome all of you to this Olympiad. The presence of participants from different subjects of Russia at this event shows that you all want to show your capabilities and compete for victory. Among hundreds of thousands of specialities existing in the world, the most important ones are medicine and pedagogy. You save people, treat them. During the Great Patriotic War 75 per cent of wounded soldiers were treated in hospitals, including those in Dagestan. During the war there were 66 evacuation hospitals in Dagestan, where soldiers were put on their feet and returned to the front. The role of medical workers is great; even now our soldiers are saved by valiant medics. Master your speciality, improve your profession, you will always be in demand and needed,’ Alijanov said in his speech and wished success to the children.

After the grand opening of the Olympiad, master-classes were held: ‘Explosion at a petrol station in the city. The explosion affected nearby residential buildings. Evacuation and Assistance to the Victims’ (students of the Medical College of DSMU) and “The work of rescuers and psychologists in localising and eliminating fire outbreaks, evacuating victims and providing first aid in natural and man-made emergencies” (specialists from the Ministry of Emergency Situations).

The next stage of the Olympiad was the second competitive task — an interactive task ‘Assisting the injured’, during which the participants demonstrated their practical skills.