Bringing Essential Emergency and Critical Care (EECC) Training to Lebanon: A Lifesaving Initiative

In times of crisis, the ability to recognize and respond to critical illness can mean the difference between life and death. Recently, Swedish ICU doctor and cardiologist Märit Halmin led a crucial Essential Emergency and Critical Care (EECC) training in Lebanon, adapting the course to meet the urgent needs of healthcare workers operating in a conflict-affected region.

Dr. Halmin, who is affiliated with the Swedish Centre for Health Crises and has extensive experience with Doctors Without Borders, conducted EECC training sessions at conference centers in Beirut and Jbel. Across four sessions for nurses and two sessions for surgeons, approximately 100 nurses and 30 doctors gained practical, lifesaving skills to enhance their ability to care for critically ill and injured patients.

One of the four EECC training sessions for nurses

What is EECC?

Essential Emergency and Critical Care (EECC) is a structured approach to recognizing and managing critical illness with simple, cost-effective interventions. Developed by The EECC Network, this freely available training (www.eeccglobal.org/training) focuses on core principles that can be applied in any hospital setting, regardless of resource availability.

Key components of EECC training include:

• Identifying critical illness early using vital signs

• Airway management, including clearing obstructions and using basic airway devices

• Breathing support, such as oxygen therapy and ventilation

• Circulation management, including fluid resuscitation and stopping bleeding

• Responding to unconsciousness, including seizure care and glucose management

• Other essential care, such as infection control, pain management, and early mobilisation

EECC in Lebanon: Adapting to a Crisis Setting

While EECC training usually takes place over multiple days, the sessions in Lebanon were adapted to fit the current conflict situation. Nurses received a condensed one-day training, emphasizing hands-on practice, while surgeons attended an intensive one-hour session that covered the EECC framework with more technical depth.

A key focus was identifying deteriorating patients early—a crucial skill in resource-limited and high-pressure environments. In Lebanon’s current context, there is an increased need for rapid resuscitation in emergency rooms and effective postoperative care. By applying EECC principles, healthcare providers can ensure that patients who survive surgery do not later succumb to preventable causes, such as undetected respiratory failure or sepsis, in postoperative wards.

Dr. Halmin’s training sessions also highlighted the importance of teamwork in emergency care. Nurses learned to recognize warning signs and escalate concerns, while surgeons were encouraged to integrate EECC principles into their postoperative care protocols.

Dr Halmin walking participants through the EECC framework

Why EECC Matters

In settings like Lebanon, where war and instability place immense strain on healthcare services, EECC is a vital tool to prevent avoidable deaths. By equipping frontline medical staff with practical skills and knowledge, EECC strengthens healthcare resilience and improves patient outcomes even in the most challenging conditions.

The training in Lebanon is a powerful reminder that small, evidence-based interventions can save countless lives. As Dr. Halmin’s work demonstrates, investing in EECC training is not just an option—it is an urgent necessity.