Laerdal strengthens its commitment to the military and emergency medical services

At a time marked by geopolitical instability, war in Europe, and growing demands for national preparedness, Laerdal is strengthening its focus on competence, learning, and collaboration in emergency medical services, both civilian and military.

“When the risk landscape changes, the way we train and prepare must also evolve. Good preparedness is not just about good equipment, but about people who are ready to make the right decisions under pressure,” says Svend Haakon Kristensen, Director of the Military Segment at Laerdal Medical.

Kristensen steps into the newly established role of Director of the Military Segment after having served as Country Manager for Laerdal Medical in Japan for several years.

This initiative is rooted in the company’s vision that no one should die or be disabled unnecessarily because of childbirth, sudden illness, serious injury, or patient harm. Laerdal’s global ambition is to help save one million additional lives, every single year, by 2030. The increased focus on the military segment and emergency medicine builds on a long history, with Laerdal’s first products delivered to the armed forces as early as the late 1950s.

From exercises to sustained preparedness

A core element of Laerdal’s approach is the transition from isolated training events to learning that is embedded in systems. This means continuous training, quality equipment, structured learning loops, and the systematic use of data to ensure that competence is maintained and skills are retained when they matter most.

“The most important thing for us is always to ensure that the patient receives the best possible care and thereby help save lives. We do this by providing education, technology, and training embedded in structured systems,” says Kristensen.

Training is not limited to technical skills and equipment, but also focuses on decision-making, teamwork, and communication, skills that are critical in emergency departments, ambulances, delivery rooms, and military operations.

Tools and simulators for holistic learning

Laerdal’s medical simulators are an integral part of this approach. Simulators such as SimMan and Nursing Anne are used globally to train healthcare professionals in realistic and complex scenarios, ranging from advanced trauma care to resuscitation. However, it is the overall approach, and simulation as a methodology, that is key. SimMan is an adult simulator on which is it possible to train on all types of health conditions, resuscitation and emergency situations in the field.

“Simulation as a learning method bridges the gap between theory and practice. Training equipment and simulators deliver the greatest value when they are part of a comprehensive learning program. The goal is not technology for its own sake, but better collaboration and confident, well-informed decisions when time is critical,” Kristensen says.

In addition, Laerdal continues to build on skills training in emergency medicine in both low-resource and high-resource settings, through Laerdal Medical and the not-for-profit organization Laerdal Global Health. Much of this work takes place through training programs and equipment such as portable emergency training kits carried in backpacks. These kits are, among other things, part of the WHO’s Basic Emergency Care course and are designed to enable global scaling of the program.

Relevance in a total defense context

In major incidents, reserve forces and civilian preparedness must also be mobilized. Laerdal’s training models and products have been developed over time in close collaboration with partners and users specifically for these interfaces, with an emphasis on a shared language, structure, and prioritization.

“We also see that our close collaboration with municipalities and hospitals across multiple markets and countries can help lay the foundation for effective training that strengthens overall health preparedness. It’s about ensuring that skills are in place when they are needed most. This is something we will continue to build on as we increasingly invest in the military and defense sector,” Kristensen concludes.