EMT uses sign language to communicate with deaf patient

The EMT with Becky drove the ambulance to the hospital so Becky could stay with Reuben. He is currently recovering from his injuries.

Becky Gilor learned sign language six years ago. When she joined Magen David Adom as an EMT and ambulance driver in 2020, she decided to take another course to learn medical terms and conditions. Recently, her skills came in handy quite unexpectedly.

Shani Navon called the MDA hotline when her father, who is deaf, fell. He injured his right leg and back. His knee was swollen, and he couldn’t walk. Her father’s pain and anxiety made Shani nervous. She didn’t know how she could be by his side, comfort him, and translate for the EMTs on the way.

“They say even at their best a translator will get only 80%,” said Shani. “So imagine, it’s the middle of the night, I woke up suddenly, this is my dad, my son was panicking, I could barely translate.”

As luck would have it, Becky was the ambulance driver sent to his home that night. Becky immediately started signing with Reuben Avrahami, looking directly into his eyes, which greatly reduced his anxiety and Shani’s.

Israel’s channel 13 recognized Becky for her actions that put a family at ease on a fraught-filled night.

EMT uses sign language to communicate with deaf patient

A total of 832,277 Patients and casualties were transferred to hospitals

MDA Operates 166 stations throughout Israel

MDA teams perform an Average of 500 resuscitations per month

MDA evacuated 74,865 wounded in road accidents, and 5,142 wounded from work-related accidents

232 babies were delivered in ambulances and at home assisted by MDA team members

There are 350 paramedics in the organization

On average, 1,745 operational callouts take place every day

In a public satisfaction survey conducted MDA came in 2nd place after the IDF on a list of security, emergency and rescue organizations with a score of 96%

According to the organization's statistics, the average response time for an ambulance and mobile intensive care unit is 8 minutes after the first call is received

In 2015, MDA celebrated its 85th anniversary

In a public satisfaction survey conducted MDA came in 2nd place after the IDF on a list of security, emergency and rescue organizations with a score of 96%

In 2015, MDA celebrated its 85th anniversary

MDA Employs 2,200 paid staff members and activates 22,000 volunteers, 12,000 of whom are teenagers

4,500 First Responder volunteers respond to an average of 488,8 calls a month I Volunteers invest over 1.5 million hours of service per year

The oldest volunteer is 90 years old & the youngest is 15

17,954 women in labor were transferred to hospital delivery rooms

There are 3 professionals in a Mobile Intensive Care Unit

A Life Support Ambulance A MICU team of 2 includes an Emergency Medical Technician and a paramedic

100,000 Israelis have downloaded the "My MDA" cellular App

20,000 Life Guardians are active across the country

110,000People underwent resuscitation courses

An intensive first aid and resuscitation course lasts 60 Hours

More than 470 foreign volunteers from 22 different countries were trained and volunteered in MDA stations

MDA trained 3,000 young parents in Infant and Child resuscitation

1,750 teenagers are given summer courses every year in infant and child resuscitation

750 teenagers are trained during courses to manage an MCI - Multi Casualty Incident

260,000 Blood Units were donated to MDA's Blood Bank | The MDA Blood Bank Services have 43 Blood Bank Mobiles

MDA dispatchers answer an emergency phone call in less than 4 seconds

The MDA emergency phone number is 101.

MDA deploys 379 MICUs (Mobile Intensive Care Units)

MDA deploys 715 ambulances

MDA deploys 63 of which are able to navigate through difficult routes and off-road conditions

MDA deploys 8 Dune Tractors (MULES) to evacuate victims from unconventional areas

MDA deploys 5 paramedic supervisor ALS vehicles, and 2 helicopters

MDA deploys 507 First responders on motorbikes

MDA deploys 50 armored ambulances are also deployed in friction and combat zones

There are 174 MDA ambulances stationed in Kibbutzim, Moshavim and Local Councils