Emergency Medicine is a Medical specialty concerned with the care of patients with illnesses and injuries requiring immediate medical attention. It encompasses the immediate care of patients of all age groups and is an important specialty for all Medical Officers and Medical Tradesmen. As military medical personnel, vigilance and preparedness to handle emergencies and disasters of a national scale is imperative. As first responders in the event of an emergency, the need to be well versed in the management of multiple emergencies is crucial.

In an endeavor to uplift the knowledge of Emergency Medicine of all health care providers in the Sri Lanka Air Force, a Basic Emergency Medicine Course was organized and successfully conducted by the Dte of HS of the SLAF in Collaboration with the Sri Lankan College of Emergency and Retrieval Medicine on the 04th and 05th Oct at the Hospital premises of SLAF Base Katunayake. The workshop was conducted under the guidance of the Director Health Services, Air Vice Marshal LR Jayaweera and Commanding Officer SLAF Base Katunayake, Group Captain NDB Abeysekara.  The workshop which was attended by a number of Medical Officers and Medical tradesmen consisted of a number of lectures highlighting the importance of multiple disciplines of Emergency Medicine in a military setting. The program provided the participants with valuable insight into the management of common emergencies encountered within and outside a Hospital setting. The workshop also included a number of skills stations to provide the participants with hands on experience in managing acutely ill and injured patients.

The workshop was spearheaded by the President of the Sri Lankan College of Emergency and Retrieval Medicine, Emergency Physician, Dr. Harendra Cooray. Lectures were conducted by a number of elite College Alumni including Emergency physicians Dr. Ganaja Samarajeewa, Dr. Thedchanamoorthy Prashanth, Dr.  Sanath Rajakaruna, Dr. Aroshana Arapola and Dr. Thusitha Kumarasiri.

The program is the first of its kind in the SLAF and will take place in 03 sessions to enable all Medical Officers and Medical Tradesmen of the SLAF to participate and gain exposure in the field of Emergency Medicine.