Magen David Adom

In light of the increase in coronavirus cases, Magen David Adom is launching a “corona guardians” project in which the organization trains the public to learn how the virus works and cut off the chain of infections among their family, friends, coworkers, and other places.

In addition, the organization’s youth volunteers were trained to assist the public by handing out masks, spreading information, and teaching them to take responsibility.

“As part of the project, we invite the public to learn free of charge in an electronic and short course on the coronavirus. The course also teaches the public to reduce and keep track of exposures which assists in the epidemiological investigation in case of an infection,” said Dr. Eli Yafe, MDA deputy director-general for community. “In addition, MDA’s youth volunteers have been distributing masks to the public and helping them learn about the pandemic and prevention methods to raise public awareness and help break the cycle of infections.”

As part of the program, the new Corona Guardians learn about the virus and the ways of infection and avoidance, while emphasizing the importance of wearing a mask and social distancing. Those who complete the training, will keep a personal diary in which they will record their interactions during the last 14 days, with the aim of interrupting the cycle of infection and significantly reducing the cases of exposure to the virus in case of infection.

Today, if a person does not feel well, he goes to the doctor, waits for an appointment, is sent for a corona test, waits for the results and only then, when the answer is positive and only then the epidemiological investigation begins. The diary kept by the Corona Guardians is intended to reduce the cycle of infection, and if necessary, will help to update quickly, immediately and effectively all those people to whom the patient has been exposed in the last 14 days.

In addition, “Corona Guardians” will teach in educational settings and community days for the public about the importance of adhering to the guidelines. In the initial phase, dozens of MDA volunteers joined the project, who serve as “Tav Sagol” instructors who are in the community and, as mentioned, distribute masks to citizens who walk around without a mask and help raise awareness of the precautions and dangers.

“Recently, we have been holding a lot of activities aiming to prevent the cycle of infection at the height of the second wave. We learn about the virus as much as possible in order to teach the public who are very naturally stressed as much knowledge as possible. We are here to explain, raise awareness and help,” said Adi Raanan, a 17-year-old youth volunteer from MDA’s Jerusalem Region who’s participating in the initiative. “Even if I am not on duty on the ambulance and saving lives directly, I feel that through advocacy I do it in a different way, through mission, guidance and advocacy. People receive our service in a beautiful and respectful way and use us to break the cycle of infection and be healthier.”

“Magen David Adom has engraved on its banner to fight the spread of the corona virus and work to prevent the chain of infection,” said MDA Director General Eli Bin. “Together, hand in hand with the general public and while raising awareness — we will work against the coronavirus, in order to drastically reduce the number the infections. ”

Here’s a short video that is being shown on Israeli television to raise awareness for our project: Watch Video > 

More details about the project can be found on the MDA website https://www.mdais.org/kursim/nc

By : Matt Sloan

Board Members, Allyson Small and Melissa McCurdie co-ordinated a very successful colouring in competition for the Jewish Day Schools in October with very colourful results.

Thank you to the wonderful schools and students who showed enthusiasm, skill and support for MDA Israel! It was difficult to choose the winners from the hundreds of fantastic entries received. We are so proud of your efforts and for brightening up MDA as we continue to save lives.

The winners were:
Best over all boy from all schools
Josh Levy – Kesser Torah

Best overall girl from all schools
Janie Kogan – Moriah College

Best entries:
Emanuel
Nadav Pollak
Masada Primary
Agam Tchelet
Masada Kindy
Kaleb Cohen
Kesser Torah
Rachel Gopin
Moriah
Ollie Rubinstein

1000 Tzedakah boxes were also distributed throughout the schools introducing the children to the concept of giving charity for a good cause.
Please call the MDA office on 9358 2521 when the boxes are full and we will arrange to collect them.

Plan today to make a gift in your Will to Magen David Adom, to ensure future generations of Israelis and visitors to Israel can continue to receive the lifesaving treatment they need. Your loyalty and commitment to MDA will ensure its continuity for many years to come.

You can make a difference – your Bequest to Magen David Adom WILL save lives. You will be remembered. Just as the late Dr Cyril Aarons z”l did. As a doctor, he was very interested in MDA’s work and welfare. Most generous during his lifetime Cyril made sure that his kindness would extend well into the future. Thanks to his generosity, his memory lives on through a donated ambulance and medicycle and a most generous bequest which allows MDA to continue its lifesaving work.

For a copy of the Wills brochure, L’Chaim a Will to Life or for confidential enquiries, please phone Tamara Lowbeer on 9358 2521 or 0413 084 994.

A beautiful new range of gift certificates will soon be available depicting original artworks by local artist, Derryn Tal who has generously donated some of her magnificent images to Magen David Adom. The images depict Jewish themes and milestones.

Derryn Tal is an Australian contemporary artist whose practice is based on alchemy and the exploration of the concept of change. As well as painting and photographic mixed media, her creativity spans sculpture, rug design and jewellery.

Derryn has exhibited in Sydney, Melbourne, New York & Italy and has won numerous awards for contemporary art.

The certificates will be available in hard copy or e-version, signifying that a donation has been made to Magen David Adom for lifesaving work. This is a wonderful way to honour family and friends celebrating a simcha or remembering a loved one. Donors can order certificates via
www.magendavidadom.org.au or phone the office on 9358 2571.

Proceeds of the MDA Simcha program provide medical equipment and supplies for the MDA heroes, the EMTs, paramedics and volunteers who save lives in Israel every single day. Everyone benefits.

Having a Tzedakah box in the home is a reminder of the importance of giving charity to a worthy cause like Magen David Adom which saves lives in Israel every day.

If you would like a box or yours needs emptying, please phone the MDA office on 9358 2521 and a volunteer will make arrangements to come to you. The Tzedakah boxes are FREE.

MDA tap machines are also available for shops and businesses. Please phone Rivkah Lazarus or Tamara Lowbeer on 9358 2521.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak on February 24, 2020, MDA teams have tested over 2.5 million people from all over the country including 4,425 people who have returned to Israel from abroad who were tested at an MDA mobile test stand set up at Ben Gurion Airport.

MDA Paramedics have taken 3,000 serological tests, and transported thousands of confirmed patients from their home to hospitals around the country.

MDA Blood Services continue to collect plasma from those who have recovered from COVID-19 for the treatment of severely ill patients and the production of a passive vaccine. Approximately 9,918 plasma units have been collected and 3,104 units have been given to 1,552 COVID-19 patients. 

One blood donation can save up to 3 lives. 

MDA’s 101 Emergency Call Centres have experienced a significant increase in citizen inquiries, which have reached 12,700 calls a day, an increase of about 210% compared to a routine day.

At the same time as conducting all of these COVID related measures, MDA continues to manage and answer all routine and emergency activities.

Membership of Magen David Adom shows your loyalty and commitment to MDA and the vital work it does every day. Please help ensure that MDA is always ready to respond no matter the situation. Renew or become a member today and take part in the next MDA lifesaving miracle.

Membership is for the calendar year. There are three options: $95 for a family; $65 for individual membership and $35 for a student membership, 25 years and under.

As a member you receive a digital Ambulance Card that entitles you to free ambulance travel in Israel in the event of a medical emergency (our hope is that you never have to use it) and an opportunity to participate in a FREE First Aid course which will be run by MDA three times in 2021. The First Aid Course dates will be advertised and will be FOR MEMBERS ONLY (limit of one per family).

Magen David Adom (MDA) announced on Thursday they have conducted 1,053,864 tests since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic outbreak at the end of February.

The tests, performed over the past months, took place in several locations, from private homes, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes as part of the “Protecting Fathers and Mothers” project, MDA drive-thru testing stations to educational institutions.

As of now, 287,751 tests were conducted at the several MDA drive-thru testing stations, based in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem and Beersheba while 218,939 tests were taken privately at people’s homes and publicly in schools and another 3,180 tests were done on travelers who returned to Israel from abroad at a special stand in Ben-Gurion Airport.

Last week, 103,876 people were tested by MDA, which represents the highest number of samples in one week. Some 3,000 serological tests have also been taken by MDA’s teams and helped to evacuate thousands of positively tested patients from their homes for hospitalization.

Moreover, besides taking hundreds of thousands of tests, MDA blood services continue to collect plasma from those who have recovered from the coronavirus for the treatment of severely ill patients and the production of a passive vaccine. Until today, 6,363 plasma units were donated by the ones who recovered from coronavirus.

Considering the rise in coronavirus cases – and with the numbers continuing to climb – many Israelis are looking to MDA for answers during this time of uncertainty.

MDA’s 101 Emergency Call Centers show a significant increase in citizen inquiries, which reached 16,237 calls a day this week, an increase of about 270% compared to a routine day.

https://www.jpost.com/health-science/magen-david-adom-conducts-over-1m-coronavirus-tests-since-pandemic-begins-640299?fbclid=IwAR00crIFlna6AaZU-c-fTI_qorFaUsntMjkXz5XWnCayjyuqXwNg2yAgUlU

“Emergency medicine in the State of Israel is in good hands”

The Minister of Health, MK Yuli (Yoel) Edelstein (Likud), visited the Magen David Adom National Operations Center in Kiryat Ono and was accompanied by MDA Director General Eli Bin and the organization’s senior management. Minister Edelstein received a comprehensive overview of the organization’s activities, a tour of the emergency call center and learned about the extensive activities led by MDA, as Israel’s national emergency medical and blood services organization, including those to mitigate the spread of Corona virus in Israel.

During the visit, the Minister of Health learned about MDA’s activities and received and in depth review of the organization’s response to the corona crisis as well as the routine incidents. The overview included an emphasis on the 420,000 samples taken by MDA teams in the nursing homes and long-term care facilities. In addition, he received an explination of MDA’s Blood Services program to collect plasma units from those who have recovered from the corona virus. To date, 970 units have been provided to 500 patients in moderate and severe condition around the country.

An additional project of interest was the placement of AEDs in public places. These AEDs are connected to MDA’s 101 emergency call center and allow the public and those without prior medical training to provide CPR and electric shock to save the life of a person suffering from cardiac arrest.

The Minister heard about the MDA 2020 project (MDA in the Community), which improves MDA’s treatment and is expected to alleviate crowding in the emergency rooms in the future. The Minister toured the Mobile Command and Control Vehicle and the organization’s special intensive care bus. In addition, Minister Edelstein was privy to the many technologies developed in the organization including the automated dispatch model and the unique vehicles operated by MDA, including ambulances, medi-cycles, electric bicycles, blood mobiles and even test drove MDA’s ATV.

Minister of Health, MK Yuli (Yoel) Edelstein: “I was honored to be hosted by our dear partners at Magen David Adom. I learned about the complex activities of the organization both during routine and during corona. Many of the healthcare system’s needs would not have been cared for it not for MDA’s assistance and execution of a wide variety of activities. The activities included not only routine evacuations of patients but taking test samples, operating the “Drive and Test” facilities, assisting with the elderly population and more. We will certainly continue our productive cooperation. I have seen the impressive technological capabilities, cooperation with other rescue organizations and I am confident that the emergency medicine in the State of Israel is in good hands. We will continue to further our cooperation between the Ministry of Health and Magen David Adom.”

MDA Director General, Eli Bin: “I congratulate Minister Edelstein and thank him for devoting his time to visiting Magen David Adom. We have known the Minister for many years and cherish his many years of cooperation with us. We thank him for his Zionist activities and work. The Minister met with the volunteers and staff who are at the forefront of the national struggle to prevent the spread of the Corona virus. I sincerely hope that we will continue to work hand in hand, with the Ministry of Health towards calmer days and the end of the second wave.”

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MDA continues to innovate the way we battle coronavirus.

Since the beginning, MDA has been at the forefront of handling the pandemic and as a result, many of our staff have and are at risk of contracting the virus.

To mitigate this, MDA, along with Mifal Hapais, Israel’s National Lottery, have set up monitoring systems in our ambulances so that our staff are not at risk.

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