Rima Ziuraitis is a brave combat medic and volunteer in Ukraine since 2022 whose service inspires courage and dedication in those around her. An American of Lithuanian descent, Rima is driven by her family’s historical trauma under Russian oppression. She works to provide critical medical aid on the front lines, saving lives in a war zone marked by brutal conflict. As a certified Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) provider, having graduated at the top of her class, she delivers emergency care under extreme conditions and trains Ukrainian combat medics in life-saving techniques. Her role as Special Program Manager at Atlas Global Aid and Director of Media for the Lithuanian Research and Studies Center demonstrates her long commitment to humanitarian causes. Ziuraitis and her work have been featured in articles from Voice of America, Naperville Public Television (NCTV 17), and PR.com.

Combat medics like Rima face immense challenges in the fighting in Ukraine. The war is savage.  About 25% of casualties arrive in hemorrhagic shock and 15-20% need blood transfusions, demanding specialized supplies like tourniquets, hemostatic gauze, chest seals, decompression needles, and blood transfusion kits. These are critical for addressing massive bleeding, the leading cause of preventable battlefield deaths. However, supply lines are frequently disrupted by attacks, and the lack of reliable power for refrigeration limits blood product storage, making consistent resupply vital. Donations are essential to procure these items. A single medic backpack, capable of treating up to 15 wounded, can cost $3,000, but a CAT7 tourniquet that can mean the difference between life and death is only $35. Without adequate supplies, medics are forced to improvise, putting lives at risk.

Around 90% of the medical supplies used on the front-lines in Ukraine are obtained by donations. Rima’s efforts rely heavily on donations such as yours to sustain her work. The funds we raise will help to support the purchase of TCCC-compliant first aid kits, which include advanced QuikClot dressings to stop severe bleeding, and enable training programs to teach critical medical skills. Ukraine has a severe shortage of trained medical personnel: the Armed Forces of Ukraine operate at less than 50% of required combat medic staffing. Your donations will help Rima to train new tactical combat medics. Donations also facilitate medical evacuations, which are complicated by the inability to use helicopters due to artillery and air defense threats, requiring off-road vehicles and anti-drone systems to protect medics and casualties. Rima’s tireless advocacy, recognized by an award from Global Lithuanian Leaders, underscores the urgency of supporting medics who face relentless casualties, ensuring they can stabilize and evacuate the wounded effectively, ultimately saving countless lives.

A2 for Ukraine is collecting donations on behalf of Blue/Yellow Ukraine, an NGO and 501(c)(3) that has been providing non-lethal aid to Ukraine since 2014. Blue/Yellow Ukraine supports the work of several combat medicals including Rima Ziuraitis.