LifesaverSIM: Combat-Proven Medical Training Simulator

This article is an English translation of a feature “LifesaverSIM: lahinguväljal karastunud meditsiinimatkur” originally published in Kaitse Kodu! (Issue 8/2025), the official magazine of Kaitseliit (Estonian Defence League).

A mobile simulation app developed during the war in Ukraine and recognized internationally by a Ukrainian-Estonian startup is helping train Estonia’s reserve paramedics and strengthen national defence.

The harsh reality of the war in Ukraine has revealed a painful truth: massive bleeding and the resulting shock are the most common preventable causes of death on the battlefield. Too often, soldiers die not due to the severity of their injuries but because timely help is not available. Ukraine has learned this lesson through loss, which has pushed the search for new and better ways to provide extensive medical training—not just for soldiers, but also for civilians facing daily risks.

The solution is here: LifesaverSIM, a game-based medical simulation app available for everyone.

A team in Lviv combined years of game development experience, practical combat medicine skills, and training methods to create something unique. They took TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care) and the NATO-standard MARCH protocol and transformed them into an interactive, gamified, and easy-to-understand learning experience.

On Ukraine’s front lines, LifesaverSIM is widely used. In several top units, such as Azov and the 3rd Army Corps, the app has become mandatory in training. Complex medical procedures are broken into clear, logical steps that users practice in realistic yet safe scenarios.

Tested at the SIILI Exercise

One of the app’s key strengths is its offline capability—it works fully without an internet connection, which is crucial in combat conditions or remote areas. When a connection is available again, results sync automatically. This allows instructors to create training groups and track performance by the second and by procedure, provide detailed feedback, and guide targeted follow-up training.

In May 2025, during the SIILI Exercise 2025, a historic milestone was reached: in the Northeast Territorial Defence District, LifesaverSIM was officially used for reserve paramedic training for the first time outside Ukraine. It was more than just a technology trial; it marked a deepening cooperation and trust between Estonia and Ukraine.

Our work with the LifesaverSIM team had been ongoing for months, and the app had already been tested in smaller exercises. For reservists—many of whom learned their medical skills years ago—the app offered a great way to refresh their knowledge and regain confidence with the latest medical tools. It's also important that, even after the training assembly, paramedics can continue simulations on their own phones, reinforcing their knowledge at home. Because the training includes Ukraine’s most recent battlefield experiences, its practical value is exceptional.

Instructors from allied nations and support from the Estonian National Defence College added an international element, making the experience genuinely unifying. While many reservists have studied medicine—often some time ago—this approach allows us to update their skills and restore confidence with modern equipment. We had the privilege of being the first medics outside Ukraine to use LifesaverSIM, a Ukrainian-developed, phone-based medical training application, in formal training.

More Than a Game

Global recognition for the app—and Estonia’s role as its first international partner—has not gone unnoticed. In 2024, the project won Best Social Impact Startup at the prestigious IT Arena technology conference, highlighting its importance.

In August 2025, Estonia became the first foreign country where the app was officially launched. This decision was not accidental: Estonia’s strong commitment to defence, high civil readiness, and the Defence League’s active role made it an ideal partner. To support national defence, the “Bleeding Control” course in LifesaverSIM has been made free for everyone in Estonia.

LifesaverSIM is much more than just an app. It provides soldiers and civilians with the skills—and, even more importantly, the confidence—to save lives in critical moments. The developers strongly emphasize cybersecurity and data protection, which are especially important in military contexts and when handling sensitive information.

It symbolizes Ukrainian resilience and innovation that is now part of Estonia’s defence development. This clearly shows how technology and collaboration can help create a safer future for all of us.