Magen David Adom

Magen David Adom has announced a first of its kind solution to safeguard medical teams and the ambulance driver from being infected by the COVID-19 patients being transported.

Over 100 donated MDA ambulances were specially redesigned internally in order to safely transport COVID-19 patients.

With the help of the IDF’s Technology and Logistics Division, a specially treated separation wall was built between the patient cabin and the MDA EMT driver, to maintain the safety of the team. Air flow and AC systems were completely separated and an intercom was installed for communications.

These modifications have helped us keep our MDA EMTs and paramedics safe while on the job as they provide care and support to thousands of sick Israelis across Israel.

Magen David Adom has entered joint ventures with Bezeq and Mifal HaPayis to install defibrillators around the country to help counter the most common cause of death in Israel and around the world – cardiac arrest. 

Israel’s main telephone company, Bezeq Israel Telecom, has announced that it will work with Magen David Adom in converting public phone booths into defibrillator stations.

MDA is also launching a joint defibrillator project with Mifal HaPayis, Israel’s National Lottery. MDA teams have begun to place the lifesaving defibrillators next to the lottery booths across the country to be accessible to the public even when the booth is closed.

In the event of a heart attack, a bystander can call the emergency services number and be directed to the nearest defibrillator booth, while an ambulance is dispatched. Any bystander will now be able to provide medical assistance to someone suffering a cardiac arrest, even without expert medical knowledge.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Israel, Magen David Adom has been at the frontline of the battle against the virus.

MDA’s tactics in combatting COVID-19 have been critical in preventing an even larger crisis in Israel.

Since MDA’s inception 90 years ago, its purpose has been to provide real-time medical assistance to the people of Israel, regardless of race, religion or background. MDA’s unique structure of more than 24,000 volunteers, who undergo annual, professional medical training and 4000 professional staff enables Israel to save countless lives and prevent the overcrowding of hospitals during the pandemic.

From responding to wars, bombings, rocket attacks, stabbings and disease, MDA has literally been on the frontline of every battle for Israel, not to wage war but to save lives.

From the start of the pandemic, MDA set up emergency call centres with hundreds of volunteers to help the public. The call centres began by answering around 6,000 calls a day and rapidly grew to over 100,000 calls each day.

Volunteers and staff are trained to provide accurate information and medical advice and instructions.

When patients need to be tested, MDA medics in protective gear and masks bring the medical tests to the patients in quarantine, rather than have the patients risk exposing others by going to the hospital.

Even post diagnosis, MDA medical staff assists patients, whether cases are severe and need hospitalisation or simply require monitoring at home.

As the crisis grows, MDA continues to open more Drive Through testing centres, minimizing hospitalisation as much as possible.

More than 450,000 COVID-19 tests have already been conducted by MDA and testing continues. The early detection of COVID-19 helps prevent the wide scale spread of the virus.

MDA’s medics and volunteers are also continuing to treat every day medical emergencies without having to take patients to hospital, which could put them at risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Forbes magazine ranked Israel as one of the safest countries in the world when considering the impact of COVID-19. This is testament to our incredible MDA teams who have shown endless dedication, professionalism and compassion, setting some of the highest medical standards in the world. MDA is Israel’s life support.

Magen David Adom has been working hard to finish the new $US 100 million National Blood and Logistics Centre in Ramla.

This is the largest capital project that Magen David Adom has ever undertaken. It is a lifesaving collaboration between American Friends of Magen David Adom, Magen David Adom UK, Australian Friends of MDA and the Government of Israel. When complete, the facility will double Israel’s blood processing capacity and protect its blood against missile, chemical and biological attack. This is vital in protecting Israel’s blood supply for the future. Despite facing unprecedented challenges over the last few months, including the workforce being reduced by two thirds to maintain social distancing, building work has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Israel’s population is expected to grow to 11.8 million in the next 20 years. The new centre will have the capacity and capabilities to supply all of Israel’s blood needs, to process or store over 500,000 units of blood per annum. The current facility can only provide about 200,000 units of blood each year. 

Naming opportunities exist for Australian donors to become involved in this project. You can join us in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and make a difference in the lives of millions in Israel. To find out how you can get involved, please call Eric Roozendaal on 0413 055 188 or email him at eric@magendavidadom.org.au. 

MDA Israel held a solidarity event on Lag B’omer with communities to honour those effected by Corona Virus around the world

As part of the event, speeches and prayers were held for the sick and words of encouragement given by former Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Senior Surgeon Yehuda Skornick and a heartwarming presentation by Cantor Shai Abrahamson.

MDA Director General, Eli Bin: “We at Magen David Adom, as Israel’s national emergency medical and blood service organization, are at the forefront of the fight against the corona and have been since the day the virus arrived in Israel.  We have not stopped our efforts to contain the virus since.  The pandemic has hit everywhere in the world, and in these difficult days we feel compelled to express deep sympathy with those communities in the world that have been affected and that, over the years, have supported us and helped us deal with challenges and difficult situations.  During this difficult time, there is little that can be done.  We will continue to embrace and share our knowledge and experience.  I wish health and recovery to the sick, send condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the severe epidemic and wish for happy days and good news.”

*NEW* MDA-Buses now operating in Israel! With the assistance of the IDF’s Ground Forces Technology Unit and In cooperation with the Osem Nestle Company and Dan bus Company, Magen David Adom created two dedicated buses to safely and efficiently evacuate multiple #coronavirus patients. These MDA-buses are fully equipped with Intensive Care Units and can treat 2 ICU patients simultaneously. It allows MDA to safely transport infected victims in larger groups, which both minimises the spread of infection and uses less of MDA’s operational vehicles. Another innovative way for MDA to respond efficiently and swiftly at a time of crisis as we continue the battle against #Covid19.

As part of the project, MDA will collect plasma units from those recovered from Corona in order to treat the severely ill. This is based on the assumption that those who have recovered from the disease have developed special anti-virus proteins (antibodies) in their plasma. These units provide patients with a “passive vaccine” that may help them cope with the disease.
Plasma with antibodies has previously been used, for example, in the treatment of patients with SARS during the outbreak in 2002 and in Israel similar treatment has been previously given to patients with West Nile fever. This week, the FDA approved a similar protocol in the US.
MDA Deputy Director General- Blood Services, Prof. Eilat Shinar: “those who have recovered from Coronavirus will be invited to donate plasma by a special method (Pheresis method) where only donor plasma is collected, and all other blood components are returned to him. This method has been in use at MDA’s Blood Services over 30 years and thousands of volunteers donate blood this way every day. In the first phase, the plasma units will be used to treat by transfusion, but the goal is to collect enough plasma to prepare antibody (immunoglobulin) concentrate with which patients will be treated later. Of course, anyone who is invited to donate a plasma must meet the Health Ministry’s criteria and requirements for donating blood.
Plasma collection can only be done after 14 days have passed after their full recovery and these days the Ministry of Health in contact with those who have recovered to transfer their details to Magen David Adom.
The project is expected to begin in the coming days and will be carried out in the Pheresis Unit at MDA’s Blood Services Centre, at the Tel Hashomer complex.

A quick update on how your support is helping Magen David Adom fight the coronavirus in Israel:
 
Key Stats
Magen David Adom has performed more than 8,571 at-home tests.
As of March 17th, 280 Israelis have tested positive for the disease.
MDA has tripled its call-taking capacity in response to deluge of calls about coronavirus. MDA is taking more than 80,000 calls a day from concerned Israelis about coronavirus — 74,000 calls more than usual and answered on average in 10 seconds. Read full story> 

MDA to roll out drive-through coronavirus tests, increase screening by 1,900%. Individuals would drive up to large medical tents placed strategically across the country and be swabbed without having to leave their car Read full story>

Medical students will double the number of sample takers across the country. Approximately 700 medical students from five faculties across Israel, who are in the clinical phase of their studies, joined the national effort in preventing the spread of the coronavirus in Israel. After training, they will join the 800 MDA paramedics who are already taking samples across the country. Read full story>

Reading these stories about how Magen David Adom is leading the way to battle the coronavirus is inspiring beyond words. And it’s your support that has enabled MDA’s paramedics and EMTs to respond to coronavirus so efficiently and effectively. We will continue to keep you updated.

MDA urgently needs your support to deal with this unprecedented demand for protective medical equipment, dispatch operators, virus testing supplies and all of the other resources required to meet the daily emergency response needs of the 9 million people living in Israel.

Click here to donate now.