TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s military carried out an exercise on Monday (May 6) in Pingtung to strengthen medical resilience.

The exercise replicated a mass casualty event amid a firefight. A forward resuscitative and surgical detachment (FRSD) from Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital and personnel from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Pingtung County Fire Department, local hospitals, and Pingtung Special Search and Rescue Team all participated, according to Military News Agency. 

Under simulated enemy fire, soldiers ventured onto the battlefield to rescue fallen or wounded comrades to medical stations. The search and rescue team deployed drones and search dogs to collapsed buildings to search for casualties and conducted further medical drills.

Army medical units established secondary control stations, collaborating with the FRSD to conduct casualty classification and surgery. They also utilized new medical kits and ambulances.

The exercise enhanced participants' understanding of combat medical treatment and familiarized civilian medical personnel with FRSD training and operations.