Vilić: Our officers are trained to provide first medical aid in case of injuries

Two tactical-demonstration exercises "Providing first aid to a VIP person in cases of firearm use" were held at the headquarters of the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH in Sarajevo, reports a reporter of the Bosnian news agency Patria. 

Namely, the participants did not know what would happen in the exercise, but the element of surprise was successful, and all participants were awarded certificates.

After the exercise concluded, Mirsad Vilić, director of the DKPT, emphasized that it is the duty and obligation of this police agency to protect VIP persons and return them alive and healthy to their families.

- By obtaining these certificates, our officers have become qualified, more precisely additionally educated, for providing first medical aid because research shows that in 70% of cases, if first aid is not provided properly within the first ten minutes, we lose our protectee. Our officers now have knowledge for situations involving heavy bleeding and establishing proper breathing - said Vilić.

ICITAP Director Charles Bennet expressed gratitude to Vilić and the Ministry of Security of BiH for agreeing to hold such an exercise and emphasized that this is not the end and that they will continue to work on additional education of police officers.

Jason Deal, from the civil-military support team of the US Embassy in BiH, especially thanked Hamdija Subašić, from the Armed Forces of BiH, who was the main instructor in this exercise.

Officers of the Directorate who work on direct physical protection of VIP persons thus acquire knowledge and skills that will raise security to a higher level. The exercise was conducted as part of the training "Providing first aid in cases of firearm use" which began on Monday, October 13. The training, which is carried out under the mentorship of elite instructors from the US Army and the Armed Forces of BiH, is an integral part of special operations tactics.