Magen David Adom’s Inception

Magen David Adom in Israel was born twice: the first time in 1918 at the end of WWI and the second time in 1930.

The spirit of volunteerism that swept Jewish youth in Palestine eager to help the British in WWI also gave rise to MDA in Jaffa and in NY at the same time. It was decided to establish a Jewish body based on the example of the Red Cross. The body would operate as a volunteer organization, in which doctors, nurses, paramedics and other volunteers would serve. Its purpose would be to offer medical aid to soldiers serving in the Jewish regiments as well as to aid the population in case of a national disaster.

In an appeal to Jewish youth to volunteer in the formation of MDA, the founders urged them to give of themselves, claiming a great national human value for the organization. “We must not entrust the care of our heroic soldiers to the sons of a foreign nation speaking a foreign language when illness strikes, or when they are wounded on the battle field……Not in the name of a foreign symbol or under a flag of foreign holiness will they utter consolations to our soldiers lying on the sick-bed…..” About 500 young people volunteered for the organization at the time of its founding. However, only a very few were actually chosen to go out to the front to aid the soldiers of the Jewish brigades.

In May 1921 the Jewish brigades were disbanded and MDA along with them. However, the medical department, the spirit of the organization, continued to operate and 9 years later the organization would be re-established in Tel Aviv.

Following the period of bloody riots in the year 5,681 (1921), large numbers of Jews moved from Jaffa to Tel Aviv. Waves of the Third and Fourth Aliya (immigration of Jews from abroad) brought tens of thousands of Jews to Israel, a large number of whom settled in Tel Aviv. However, the rapid organizational development of the city, large number of residents, laying of infrastructure, construction of buildings and heavy traffic led to an increase in accidents. There was also a rise in the incidence of bodily injuries due to the quickly developing industry. These injuries caused the officials of the first Jewish city to consider the matter of evacuation of the injured to hospitals and providing first aid.

The father and progenitor of the association for rapid aid was Dr. Meshulam Levontin, who raised the issue of care and evacuation before the city leaders. Dr. Levontin proposed the purchase in Egypt of two sets of bicycles supporting a bed for the purpose of transferring the sick and injured in case of disaster. His proposal, however, was not approved. At the same time, Chaim Halperin returned from Egypt, where he had been sent on a mission for the fire fighters. There he saw a modern ambulance and was determined to purchase an ambulance for Tel Aviv. He contacted Dr. Levontin and on June 7, 1930, Dr. Levontin, Chaim Halperin, M. Rabinowitz, M. Frankel, Dr. Eliyahu, Dr. Barzel, and C. Leibowitz met in a café on the Tel Aviv waterfront and decided to set up an association for rapid aid, “Magen David Adom, Tel Aviv”.

Announcements were published in newspapers calling for residents to join and volunteer for the association. Members of the association began first aid training for the residents taught by Dr. Alotin, who had previous experience in first aid training. At its inception, the volunteer regiment in Tel Aviv numbered 100 volunteers who were divided into three companies.

The graduates of the first aid courses signed a commitment to volunteer for the association for one year as on-duty volunteers at the MDA station. At the same time, intensive activity began to raise money for the purchase of ambulances by the “sale of ribbon”, and on June 24, 1931, the first ambulance set out from Dr. Levontin’s house to the home of the mayor of Tel Aviv, Meir Dizengoff.

MDA expanded its operations within the framework of the renewed communities in Palestine (Eretz Yisrael). In 1947, 24 MDA associations were in operation throughout the country equipped with 28 ambulances and comprising approximately 5,000 volunteers.

MDA Friends Societies

As soon as the organization was established, societies of MDA Friends abroad began to become active. These groups have helped raise funds to set up an array of lifesaving vehicles, blood services and stations and to purchase medical equipment. The society of American Friends was established during the 1930s and notes 70 years of activity and has, in fact, accompanied MDA since the day it was founded. The society of British Friends notes 60 years of activity. Today some 20 societies of MDA Friends are active around the world, raising funds for resources required by MDA for its current operations and for development of life saving operations.

Today MDA operates 11 operational regions with more than 115 stations and dispatch points all over the country. In these stations some 300 standard ambulances and 150 Mobile Intensive Care Units, special emergency vehicles can be found, in addition to some 200 lifesaving vehicles which can be found in remote communities and factories operated by MDA trained volunteers.

The Volunteers

Volunteers have founded and been active in MDA since the organization got under way. Today over 13,000 highly trained volunteers are active throughout the country, of which half are youth volunteers serving as part of the crews on ambulances and Mobile Intensive Care Units and “MDA cadets”, who represent MDA’s humanitarian youth movement activities.

Intensive Care

During the early 1970’s, MDA was the pioneer organization in Israel developing the Pre-Hospital Advanced Life Support System, operating Mobile Intensive Care Units and training Advance Life Support Medics and Paramedics.

The 1950s onwards

In 1950, the Knesset ratified the Magen David Adom Law, designating the organisation as Israel’s National Red Cross Society. Magen David Adom has since played a major role in providing lifesaving services during times of war, terrorist attacks, and for accidents and emergencies in peace-time.

Today, Magen David Adom operates to the standards of the International Committee of the Red Cross and was officially grated membership to the organisation in 2006. Donations from supporters, such as Magen David Adom Australia (and its constituent State bodies), enable the organisation to purchase ambulances and lifesaving equipment and supplies.

 

Magen David Adom’s Blood Services collects and tests over 300,000 units of blood annually – that’s around 95% of what is required nationally.
Based at Tel Hashomer (pic left), a 15-minute drive from Tel Aviv and 45 minutes from Jerusalem, the blood bank, laboratories and their 200 personnel are responsible for:

• organising “Blood Drives”, recruiting volunteer, non-remunerated blood donors
• preparing routine and modified blood components
• testing all units for blood groups, Red Blood Cell antibody screening and infectious disease markers
• storing and maintaining the country’s blood inventory
• shipping daily supplies to hospital blood banks and to the Israel Defence Forces

90% of all units are collected during mobile blood drives, conducted daily, nationwide using 24 mobiles and 12 self-contained units. The balance (10%) are collected in fixed-site donor rooms, located in MDA Emergency Medical stations. Volunteer blood donors are offered MDA Blood Insurance, which grants the donor and his/her immediate family a “blood credit” for one year following the donation.

DID YOU KNOW that blood components have a “shelf-life”, even when stored appropriately?

Red Blood Cells: 35-42 days at 1-6°c
Platelets: 5 days at 22°c
Plasma: 12 months at -20°c

That is yet another reason that the need for blood is constant!
DID YOU ALSO KNOW that MDA Blood Services undertakes the following additional activities:

• maintains a national blood group reference laboratory for rare blood
• maintains the National Public Cord Blood Bank
• produces macrophage suspension for the treatment of chronic wounds
• teaches Transfusion Medicine
• initiates Transfusion Medicine policies?

MDA’s Cord Blood Bank (CBB) Project

in collaboration with leading Israeli medical centres, is aimed at building a public facility which will store a large inventory of Stem Cell units, suitable for Bone Marrow Transplantation (mainly for under-represented minorities) so as to increase the chances of patients in Israel and worldwide to undergo Stem Cell Transplantation.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

By 2030, Israel’s population is predicted to exceed 10.5 million and so the demand on MDA’s Blood Services will increase accordingly. This vital, national facility needs to be housed in larger, modern and SECURE premises.

Welcome to Project 2030

aimed at building a blood bank, laboratories and research facility, within the next few years, which will be able to cope with Israel’s demand on its services through to the year 2030.

Only administration and reception will be housed above-ground in the new premises. Everything else – blood storage, testing, laboratories and despatch – will be UNDERGROUND, in order to maintain full functionality during times of national emergency – be they natural disasters, terrorist attacks or war.

This is a MAJOR project – and MDA donors, worldwide, will be needed to make it happen. If you are interested in contributing to this vital undertaking, please call the MDA Australia office in Melbourne on (03) 9272 5633 or in Sydney on (02) 9358 2521, and we will be happy to provide you with more information.

A few examples of occasions that MDA Israel have responded to emergency situations:

BEN YEHUDA PEDESTRIAN MALL

7 killed, 83 injured (slight to severe) – two explosions, a slight distance from each other on a Saturday night in a pedestrian mall of central Jerusalem, teeming with people at the time. A short time later, a car bomb exploded in an adjacent street next to medical teams and ambulances treating the
injured.

MORIAH AVENUE

13 killed, 51 injured (slight to severe) – deadly bomb explodes in a bus which, at the time, was transporting dozens of schoolchildren, women and elderly. The metal fragments, within the enclosed bus, caused serious injuries to many.

THE “SBARRO” RESTAURANT

15 killed, 130 injured (slight to severe) – large bomb exploded within the “Sbarro” restaurant in the centre of Jerusalem which was full of people at the time – among the killed were five members of one family, among the injured were many children and infants.

Magen David Adom has over 100 First Aid Stations deployed throughout the country, from Metulla in the north to Eilat in the South.

These First Aid Stations serve as bases for most of MDA’s ambulance fleet, plus almost 30 four-wheel drive ambulances, over 100 MICU’s (Mobile Intensive Care Units) and ICA’s (Intensive Care Ambulances) and 20 MRCV’s (Multi-Casualty Response Vehicles).

Eleven of these stations serve as regional communications dispatch centres.

As part of its fundraising efforts Magen David Adom Australia has undertaken the following projects:

The construction of M.D.A.Station, Yokneam, Galilee, northern Israel

Built at a cost of: AUS $ 1,500,000
Became Operational: 29th June 2009

A mezuzah-affixing ceremony, held on 29th June 2009, marked MDA Australia-sponsored MDA Yokneam Station becoming fully operational.

The Station, made possible through the generosity of donors around Australia, will service the City of Yokneam, located at the base of the Carmel Mountains, 21 kms from Haifa, with a population of over 20,000 which, over the next ten years, is expected to grow to over 60,000. It is one of the most rapidly growing cities in Israel.

Highway 6, a major Israeli artery, crosses through Yokneam and the new station’s site, adjacent to Highway 6 and Road 70, ensures accessibility to all roads and towns in the Yokneam vicinity.

The site for the new station has been generously donated by the Council of Yokneam.

The structure of the building emphasises its functionality. It is simple, clean and identifiable, comprising a long, rectangular, brick building with a big arch from which the ambulances are despatched. The Station’s strategic location, together with its specific design, saves precious seconds by placing the ambulances in the front, facing outwards.

The refurbishment of M.D.A.Station, Krayot, northern suburbs, Haifa

Cost of Renovations: AUS $ 250,000
Renovation Commencement: We are currently raising funds for this project!

In order for this station to maintain an optimum level of operation and to cope with the projected growth in demand on its services, the following items are included in this refurbishment project:

• replacement and relocation of electrical generator
• upgrading of public blood donation facilities
• repainting of station interior and exterior
• upgrading of electrical systems
• upgrading of plumbing systems
• upgrading of air-conditioning
• upgrading of damp prevention

MDA Station Krayot originally went into service on 11th October 1988, having been constructed with funds raised and provided jointly by Magen David Adom Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales.

Establishment of this Station enabled the opening of a MDA Mobile Intensive Care Unit Centre serving Krayot and the surrounding area. During the past twelve months, this station has responded to around 12,600 operational activities – involving both standard ambulances and Mobile Intensive Care Units.

In 2005, after 18 years’ service, the station underwent refurbishment.

And thanks to supporters of MDA Western Australia, in 2008, the station was newly refurnished.

And now, three years later, more refurbishment is needed to cope with the increasing demand on this station.

When little Eritrean refugee, Yonatan, became separated from his biological mother and ended up in Israel, Magen David Adom’s Tracing Department, in cooperation with international agencies, began searching for his biological mother.

An MDA Paramedic’s Experiences in Haiti

Nothing in the world – not past experience, not briefings on the way to the rescue mission, not even live reports from the scene of one of the world’s biggest natural disasters in recent times – could prepare her for the profound difficulties of working in Haiti after the massive earthquake decimated the island nation.

But eight years’ of intensive work with Magen David Adom trained MDA Paramedic Maayan Lanzman, 23, of Rishon LeZion, to cope with the difficult challenges and the fateful decisions which she faced
there.

Click HERE to read Maayan’s story!

MDA Sends Aid to Tsunami Victims

Within three days of the Tsumani disaster, Magen David Adom, following a request made by the International Red Cross, dispatched via air, urgent medical supplies in order to relieve the casualties of a devastated Sri Lanka.

The cargo included 4,080 vials of Albumin (valued over US$100,000) that were distributed amongst hospitals in the Sri Lankan capital, Columbo.

The donation was welcomed by the Sri Lankan authorities, and were put to immediate use to relieve the struck nation.

Albumin is protein that accounts for 55 percent of the total protein in blood plasma. Its major function is to help maintain the osmotic pressure between the blood vessels and tissues.

It is vital during this overwhelming calamity, as protein levels drop as the result of severe wounds, and the casualties similarly suffer from drastic malnutrition and trauma.

MDA Stations Serve as Collection Points

Israeli companies, organisations, individuals, families and students all rallied to deliver food products to MDA Stations nationwide to alleviate the hunger of the victims of the SE Asia
Tsunami disaster.

Within two days, Magen David Adom Station-by-Station collections totalled over 15 tons of dried food products and mineral water. The “Ein Gedi” Mineral Water plant donated 3,000 1.5 litre bottles.

Several food companies and wholesalers from the Arab community also donated hundreds of kilograms to the effort which were collected at MDA Stations in the lower and western Gallilee and Jerusalem regions.

MDA volunteers and staff opened collection centres in supermarkets and shopping malls to collect further donations from the Israeli public.

Shoppers were encouraged to donate by receiving a list of needed foodstuffs for the effort and to leave them with the MDA teams as they left the store. According to one MDA volunteer, “Every single shopper is giving something.”

The food products and mineral water were all dispatched to Sri Lanka within days of the Tsunami disaster.

In 1978, Magen David Adom became the first organisation in Israel to develop advanced life support techniques outside hospital walls – within Mobile Intensive Care Units.

Resuscitation is one of the most important activites within the Emergency Medical Services system, saving the lives of patients with cardiac arrest.

More than 3,000 patients are resuscitated by MDA teams in Israel each year, of which 40% are successfully resuscitated and admitted to hospital with a pulse.

In total, more than 300 patients who are clinically dead are saved by Magen David Adom crews every year.

Magen David Adom’s Medical Division is responsible for the training of all MDA personnel who work in the Mobile Intensive Care Units – Emergency Medical Technicians, paramedics and doctors.

An Intensive First Aid and Resuscitation Course comprises 44 hours’ training.

MDA’s equipment, drugs and medical protocols are the most modern and up-to-date in the world, rivalling those in the Emergency Medical Services systems of the United States of American and Europe.

Magen David Adom deploys over 100 Mobile Intensive Care Units and 700 ambulances within Israel.

MDA officially unveiled its new pride and joy at the 2013 International Magen David Adom Conference (IMDAC) – the most advanced Command Centre Vehicle in the world.

Designed by and for MDA, the Vehicle was built on the chassis of a Dutch truck, constructed in England and is equipped with Israel’s most advanced technological systems.

Principally designed for saving lives during incidents of national disaster when other communications
systems crash, the vehicle contains special cameras, the ability to control MDA dispatch centres from afar, the most advanced meeting rooms in the world and a special balcony which can be used as a strategic position for command and control.

The vehicle is 16 metres long, 4 metres high and weighs a massive 32 tons, with its own generator and a tank which can hold 900 litres of fuel.

The Command Vehicle enables the MDA teams in the field to use the communications networks, satellite and internet networks even in situations when other networks collapse – as can happen in large-scale disaster situations.

MDA teams worked in the design and construction of the Command Vehicle for four years. The need for such a vehicle became apparent due to the lessons learned following the Carmel Fire disaster during which MDA forces were faced with many challenges, central to which was the difficulty in maintaining continuous communications with each other, and to coordinate activities with other rescue organizations working in the area.

This is a special, one-of-a-kind Command Vehicle which does not exist anywhere else in the world.

This is how Israel’s Channel 10 covered the unveiling of MDA’s Command Centre Vehicle:

The Wish Ambulance is a Magen David Adom Israel project whose purpose is to fulfill the wishes of terminally ill patients.

Using a specially-equipped ambulance and a caring team of medical volunteers, patients are taken, on their request, to places which have a particular meaning to them.

The project is an opportunity to improve the well-being of patients, supplementing the medical treatment which they receive in the hospital or a hospice.

The idea at the core of the project is to allow individuals, who know that their remaining days on earth are limited, to realise a cherished dream that can be accomplished in a day (and dependent on his/her mobility.) Making this wish come true is facilitated by a specially-equipped ambulance complete with a wheelchair and a medical team which has undergone specialised training.

The ambulance enables patients who have lost their mobility to take part in a family celebrations, spend time in spots of natural beauty, visit places of nostalgic significance, attend cultural events (for example, the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra has declared that it will be happy to respond to requests for classical music), or visit with relatives or friends likewise immobilized, just to name a few reasons.

Many of the patients feel helpless and long to reconnect with society. It is vital to provide them with the possibility achieving an important and meaningful triumph over disability.

This service is offered to all patients free of charge, regardless of race, religion or nationality, and with a warm and heartfelt embrace.

The Israeli National Public Cord Blood Bank (ICBB) was recently established in partnership with Magen David Adom Blood Services, the E.Wolfson Medical Centre, Hadassah-University Hospital, and the
Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, with the support of the Israel Cancer Association.

Its goal is to save lives by providing stem cells for transplantation and by developing breakthrough technologies that will offer cures for patients with cancers and severe genetic diseases.

As a relatively small and closely interrelated community, worldwide Jewry shares a genetic relationship that makes matching its genetic codes significantly simpler than matching with unrelated individuals in the general population.

The same is true for patients from other minorities who live in Israel.

The work of the Israeli public Cord Blood Bank is targeted to improving the survival rates among patients who are Jewish, or from other minorities which are under-represented in transplantation registries worldwide, by increasing the likelihood of finding a matched stem cell unit.

Donated stem cells must be of a tissue type that closely matches that of the patient.

Since tissue types are genetically inherited, a compatible donor will most likely be a relative or someone who shares the patient’s ethnic background.

Stem cells from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or cord blood can be used for transplantation. Donations can be given by a related match (sibling), unrelated match (a volunteer donor outside the family) or unrelated cord blood unit from the cord blood bank.

Most of MDA’s medics start out as student volunteers and the vast majority of MDA’s staff offer their time for free, which is a testament to their talent and dedication.

And it’s not just MDA medics who need training.

Every bus and taxi driver in Israel MUST also hold a First Aid Certificate from Magen David Adom.

Training is an integral part of MDA’s work. Medics and paramedics are required to learn lifesaving skills.

Youth volunteers and ambulance drivers also require specialist training.

A significant amount of training equipment is required to train medics to deal with everything from everyday incidents to mass casualty situations and to ensure that MDA’s Blood Centre continues to be the most highly regarded in the world.

A basic training course in first aid for youth is of 60 hours’ duration and, for adults, it is 80 hours.

Within the framework of these courses, volunteers acquire a proficiency in heart-lung resuscitation, approach and treatment of patients, treatment of road and work accident victims, drowning, electrocution and the provision of first aid to infants and children.

Training is an on-going process. On average, each adult volunteer partipicates in 700 hours basic, specialist and refresher course time, while youth volunteers undertake, on average, 250 hours of study.

Rescue Vehicles in Magen David Adom

Advanced Life Support Services

The MDA fleet of medical vehicles is comprised of Mobile Advanced Life Support Units (MALSUs [Hebrew acronym: “NATAN”]) and Advanced Life Support Ambulances (ALSAs [Hebrew acronym: “ATAN”]), Standard Ambulances, Mobile Mass Casualty Incident Units (MMCIUs [Hebrew acronym: “TARAN”]), Command and Control Vehicle, Ambulances equipped with 4 X 4 wheel drive, All Terrain Vehicle – Ambulance (ATV – Ambulance), MDA – Helicopter, Segway, Advanced Life Support Motorcycles, and a Supervisor Vehicle.

On each shift, several MALSUs / ALSAs and white ambulances are on duty, whereas the other emergency vehicles are at parked at the station, or with drives on call duty, who are at home with the ambulances, serving as emergency personnel on call.

Mobile Advanced Life Support Unit (MALSU [Hebrew acronym: “NATAN”])

The MALSU crew is comprised of three functionaries: a paramedic, a physician and a driver who is also a medical emergency technician. The MALSU crew is usually accompany by an apprentice trainee or a volunteer.

The MALSU crew provides advanced life support in the field level. They are equipped with highly advanced equipment, including, among other things, a monitor, a defibrillator and EKG combined into a single device, and also some medications. In the MALSU they perform advanced medical procedures. MALSU s are dispatched to handle serious incidents, such as a heart attack, shortness of breath due to various reasons, harsh traffic accidents and various security – related incidents.

Advanced Life Support Ambulance (ALSA [Hebrew acronym: “ATAN”])

The ALSA is practically the MALSU without a physician on board. The ALSA is equipped with the same equipment as the MALSU. The difference is that the ALSA paramedic, who works according to same protocols as in the MALSU, must, in some cases, obtain through the telephone a confirmation for some of the procedures, from a physician who is on constant duty at the Integrated National Control Center.

The ALSA crew is comprised of a driver, who is also an emergency medicine technician, and a paramedic. The ALSA crew are usually accompanied by an apprentice trainee or a volunteer.

The ALSA crew provides advanced life support in the field level. They are equipped with highly advanced equipment, including, among other things, a monitor, a defibrillator and EKG combined in a single device, and also some medications. In the ALSA they perform advanced medical procedures. ALSAs are dispatched to handle serious incidents, such as a heart attack, shortness of breath due to various reasons, harsh traffic accidents and various security – related incidents.

MDA – Helicopter: Aeromedical Evacuation

In addition to dozens of MDA ambulances and MALSUs which make their way daily along Israel’s roads, evacuating the wounded and the sick to hospitals, MDA also operates 3 MDA – Helicopters designated for quick evacuation of the sick and the wounded from the periphery to central hospitals. The MDA – Helicopter crew is comprised of three functionaries: a pilot and two paramedics who had additional trainings in aeromedical evacuation and treatment. The MDA – Helicopter is equipped with 2 beds for patients / injured individuals. It is dispatched, where possible, on the same time with the ambulance, to the nearest landing pad, where the teams join, and from there the patient / sick / injured individual is flown to the hospital.

The MDA – Helicopter crew provides advanced life support in the field level. They are equipped with highly advanced and sophisticated equipment designed for aeromedical evacuation and treatment, including, among other things, a defibrillator and EKG combined into a single device, and also some medications. In the MDA – Helicopter they perform advanced medical procedures. MDA – Helicopters are dispatched to handle serious incidents, such as a heart attack, shortness of breath due to various reasons, harsh traffic accidents and various security – related incidents.

Command and Control Vehicle

This modern Command and Control Vehicle is used for command and control during incidents and for medical aid in complex situations. The vehicle is operated by a MDA supervisor who arrives in cases where medical reinforcement is required, or where road conditions require a 4 x 4 vehicle. The vehicle, one of only 3 vehicles of its kind in Israel, is installed and equipped to assist in handling exceptional emergencies. The vehicle is a Jeep with 4 x 4 wheel drive, equipped with state – of – the – art equipment which includes a telescopic arm with spotlights, to facilitate the handling of an incident after dark. On board of the vehicle there is a special camera which can be remotely controlled from the Center of Operations and which helps the Control Center in handling a mass casualty incident, enabling personnel to obtain a fine view of the situation. The medical supplies in the vehicle is ALS level equipment in a similar level of MALSU equipment. The Command and Control Vehicle also includes the option of evacuating a single patient in prone position. This option is helpful during routine times.

Tomcar – Ambulance

This new Tomcar ATV is equipped with two stretchers on – board. The Tomcar – Ambulance is kept on call duty at the station and dispatched to incidents where it is necessary to evacuate injured individuals from an area that cannot be accessed by a standard ambulance (such as the seaside, unpaved road, narrow passages).

The Tomcar – Ambulance is operated by a Magen David Adom paramedic who is qualified for this task. The Tomcar – Ambulance arrives to incidents where there is a need for ALS level of medical reinforcement or where necessary due to road conditions.

ALS Motorcycle

Response time is one of the most influential factors on the ability to save lives, especially in cases of respiratory obstruction, massive hemorrhage or lethal arrhythmias.

Short response time to begin the advanced medical treatment allows to utilize the Organization’s resources more effectively, reach the patient immediately and provide the patient with treatment served by an experienced paramedic. In many cases, the paramedic may also join the ambulance during evacuation, hence turning even a standard ambulance into a basic Mobile Advanced Life Support Unit.

Ambulances and other forces of Basic life support

A Standard (white) Ambulance

This type of ambulance is operated by a medical emergency technician, who may be accompanied by another medical emergency technician or a National Service volunteer.

The ambulance is equipped with dressing and Basic Life Support (BLS) equipment, providing preliminary response to the wounded or sick individual until he / she is brought to the emergency room or until the MALSU arrives.

Ambulances of this type are also used for non – urgent transfers of patients who, because of limited mobility, cannot arrive on their own to the hospital.

Mobile Mass Casualty Incident Unit (MMCIU [Hebrew acronym: “TARAN”])

The MMCIU is a portable equipment storage, with contains large quantities of first aid equipment. The MMCIU is dispatched to the field on Mass Casualty Incidents space or as part of providing security to an event which is expected to be attended by many participants. For example, securing live performances etc.

Front Command Vehicle (FCV [Hebrew acronym: “HAPAK”])

This Front Command Vehicle was especially crafted to meet MDA requirements, as the result of design and development by the MDA Special Projects Section. The Front Command Vehicle can be positioned on any point and serve as an independent Control Center, allowing control of MDA forces in the field, and providing assistance to the forces in order for them to be reach the injured individuals and render treatment for them, as quickly as possible.

The FCV is equipped with sophisticated radio systems, computers, telephones, fax and additional means of command and control.

When the FCV is positioned, it activates its four stabilizing supports (2 on the front, 2 on the rear) and raises a 15 meter high mast, which is basically a camera and an antenna and also a mobile lamppost allowing the Front Command crew to light up the area in any direction they choose. The FCV is loaded with special systems that allow MDA forces to work freely in the field, enjoying the most advanced technology even in complicated scenes.

District Front Command Vehicle (DFCV)

The efficiency of handling large scale incidents depends on command and control capabilities. This is especially true in ongoing incidents such as mega mass casualty incidents, fires, aviation accidents, train accidents, prolonged rescue operations during wartime and earthquakes.

In order to have control over incidents of this type, MDA has equipped itself with three District Front Command Vehicles positioned in the north, south and center of Israel. The DFCV allows simultaneous operation of a Command and Control Center, a Conference Room and a Communication Center.

The DFCV has communication capabilities based on cellular systems, filming and remote control capabilities and also the capability to provide power and communications infrastructure to MDA teams throughout Israel.

4 X 4 Ambulances

This ambulance is equipped with 4 X 4 wheel drive. It is dispatched to incidents which necessitate evacuation of injured individuals from areas inaccessible by standard ambulances (such as the seaside and unpaved roads).

ATV – Ambulance

This ATV has two stretchers installed on – board. The ATV – Ambulance stands by on call duty at the station and is dispatched to incidents where it is necessary to evacuate injured individuals from areas inaccessible by standard ambulances (such as the seaside, unpaved roads and narrow passages).

Life Support Motorcycle

This Motorcycle is on call duty. It is operated by an employee / volunteer for quick access to incidents mainly through urban traffic jams. It carries equipment according to the operator’s qualification: BLS for an emergency medicine technician, ALS for a paramedic.

The operator on call duty, drives the motorcycle around and is dispatched to provide aid in nearby incidents.

Club – Car

This vehicle is especially designated for stadiums. It occasionally enables MDA teams to easily and quickly reach and evacuate injured soccer players on the grassy field, hence allowing MDA teams to provide better treatment to the injured players.

ATV – Ambulance and Tomcar

Israel is characterized by a variety of geographical landscapes, including mountains, desert, the coastal plain and more. Israel has a relatively long Mediterranean coast and plenty of beaches. All these require all terrain rescue vehicles that can reach rough terrain landscapes in order to treat the injured and evacuate them to hospitals.

The ATV – Ambulance is equipped as MDA ambulance and positioned on MDA stations near public beaches and nature’s tourist attractions.

Exceptional cases, especially in the mountains and in hiking trails, necessitate an all – terrain vehicle with maneuverability much higher than that of an ambulance which can travel on paved roads. For this purpose, MDA operates a handful of Tomcar vehicles.

T3 Vehicles

Mass events such as park performances, parades, demonstrations or even funerals are a huge challenge to the rescue forces, which are required to reach the injured individual through a large crowed, while immediately pinpointing the location of this individual.

For this purpose, MDA acquired small motorized vehicles, equipped with CPR and first – aid equipment, which allow the crew member to stand 25 cm taller than the crowd, make his / her way to the injured individual and begin with the treatment until the evacuation team arrives.

Medical Teams of Magen David Adom in Israel

Each MDA employee / volunteer passes a professional training course, at the end of which, he / she gets a professional certification rank according to his / her training: First Aid Responder, Emergency Medicine Technician, Senior Emergency Medicine Technician and Paramedic. The training, continuing education and qualifications are all arranged by the Training Department of MDA.

First Aid Responder:

This course is mainly designated for youth volunteers aged 15 and over.

Some of them take the course as part of their high school “Personal Commitment” assignment.

The qualification mark of a certified First Aid Responder is red stripes on the sleeves.

Emergency Medicine Technician:

Each ambulance is driven by an Emergency Medicine Technician, who is authorized to render basic life support to the patient.

The Emergency Medicine Technician is responsible for arrival to the scene of event, providing basic lifesaving treatment to sick / injured, monitoring patient’s condition and patient evacuation to a hospital. In this capacity, the Emergency Medicine Technician serves as a medical authority and as the person in charge of the ambulance crew.

Training for the role of Emergency Medicine Technician includes: a medic course which covers various topics such as treatment of patient emergency conditions; resuscitation of adults, children and infants; treatment of various injuries; treatment of an injured individual during the pre – hospitalization stage; theory of handling mass casualty incidents etc. The course also covers topics related to issues of transportation, traffic and operating the ambulance during an emergency drive.

An Emergency Medicine Technician undergoes periodic training in the topics of first aid and mass casualty incidents.

In addition, proper driving courses take place as determined by MDA management.

The qualification mark of a certified Emergency Medicine Technician is Gray stripes on the sleeves.

Senior Emergency Medicine Technician:

A Senior Emergency Medicine Technician is the advanced rank of an Emergency Medicine Technician / Ambulance Driver who has completed an advanced course which qualifies him / her to work together with the crew of a Mobile Intensive Care Unit.

Training for the role of a Senior Emergency Medicine Technician takes about a month and includes advanced level studies: Advanced anatomy (structure) and physiology (manner of functioning) progression of human body systems, the cardiac electrical conduction system, advanced first aid treatments and more.

An Emergency Medicine Technician / Ambulance Driver who has received this training and passed all the exams, is certified as a Senior Emergency Medicine Technician and authorized to provide medication treatment to patients in accordance with the procedures. In the presence of a Paramedic, a Senior Emergency Medicine Technician is also authorized to render an electric shock treatment (defibrillation) to a patient suffering from fatal arrhythmia.

The qualification mark of a certified Senior Emergency Medicine Technician is blue stripes on the sleeves.

Paramedic:

A Paramedic is a specialist in emergency medicine of the pre – hospitalization level.

The Paramedics are MDA’s senior field officers, who successfully completed the course and received a License Number from MDA.

The Paramedic’s function is giving advanced and efficient life support to patients and injured individuals in medical emergencies, while performing sophisticated and advanced procedures, until patients are brought to a hospital / medical centre.

These aforementioned emergencies might be: heart muscle infarction; drowning; asphyxiation, severe wounds and injuries caused by traffic accidents, terrorist attacks, etc.

The qualification mark of a certified Paramedic is orange stripes on the sleeves.