“Tactical medicine techniques must be honed to automatism,” front-line reporter Sofiya Bobok

Journalists must be properly prepared when it comes to trips to the front, but knowledge of pre-medical training may be needed not only in the combat zone. This was emphasized by front-line reporter Sofiya Bobok from Kharkiv, speaking at the All-Ukrainian online conference called Lessons 2024: on Resilience of Ukrainian Media.

There are currently no safe places in Ukraine; the threat of ballistics, guided bombs, and Shahed drones can lurk anywhere. So, you always need to take care of yourself. From the most elementary thing – always have a first aid kit at hand. And not just one; it’s good when there is a spare one.

A conflict may arise, what to do: put the camera away or help the injured? If there are no specialists who would provide first aid, then journalists do it. Such situations are far from uncommon in Kharkiv.

The reporter emphasized that first aid kits need to be checked. Referring to her own experience, she said that during one of her business trips to the east, she found out that the equipment was of low quality. So, you mustn’t save money here, because it is important to help not only yourself but also others.

Among the challenges of 2024, Sofiya, without hesitation, named drones.

It is worth being ready for anything at any time, taking into account potential dangers; in particular, staying in hotels near front-line areas is inappropriate. Groups of journalists staying in them can become targets for the enemy. This happened in the summer in Kramatorsk; the enemy is constantly hitting hotels in Kharkiv. Therefore, Sofiya is convinced it is worth avoiding crowded places and looking for temporary housing, for example, apartments, considering the objects nearby and whether they can attract the attention of russians. These are security issues that are important in journalistic activities.

Sofiya also touched on such a “female” issue as manicure. The journalist refused it in 2022. In an extreme situation, a manicure will be a hindrance during, say, tamponade. Based on the experience gained, she emphasized that active headphones are important for working in a combat zone; they are helpful during shelling so that vision does not decrease and the impact on hearing due to strong explosions decreases. The reporter also emphasized cooperation with press officers so that the materials contain accurate facts.