Israel’s National EMS: War Stories
Senior EMT Continues Saving Lives Despite Missing Niece
Lior Eshel, MDA Senior EMT in the Ayalon Region is saving lives on the morning shift today, on an ambulance carrying the picture of his niece Roni, kidnapped and missing in Gaza.
Lior, we send you strength, and we pray for her safe return, along with the other 239 kidnapped victims.
Day 25 Iron Swords War: Update to MDA activities in past 24 hours
In the 24 hours until 19:15 MDA teams treated 20 casualties, including 4 injured by glass shards in the Ashdod region – a 55 year old male in serious condition, and three further males aged 66, 46 and 35 in mild condition. 6 casualties injured while seeking shelter in Ashdod, Tel Aviv and Bat Yam and 10 patients with anxiety symptoms.
Since the start of the war, MDA teams have treated thousands of casualties, including fatalities, and those injured in serious, moderate and mild condition, amongst them MDA staff who were saving lives. Continuing today, (Tuesday 31.10) MDA teams are on high alert. Some 1,400 MDA ambulances, including bulletproof are manned by MDA staff and volunteers who are saving lives, at times while under fire.
MDA Blood Services held blood drives today in Nili, Nof Hagalil, Harish, Givat Avni, Dimona, Jerusalem, the MDA Blood Services Center in Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital, and in Yehud-Monoson.
Since the onset of war (Saturday 7.10), MDA’s Blood Services have collected more than 57,000 blood donations from the public, and the blood components have been supplied to all hospitals for treatment of the casualties. The Magen David Adom Human Milk Bank has, since the outbreak of the Iron Swords War, supplied hundreds of liters of mothers’ milk to infants and premature babies who have been orphaned, whose mothers have been kidnapped or injured, and to babies whose mothers have been recruited into the IDF. Nursing mothers (in Israel) who are interested in donating mothers’ milk should email milkbank@mda.org.il or message via WhatsApp on 052-6344101.
Magen David Adom has been holding emergency first aid courses for free for the general public. In the short 3-hour course, is run by MDA instructors, and is intended for groups of up to 25 people. The course is held in safe rooms that abide by the rules of the Home Front Command. To register for a course, send the word “Course” by WhatsApp to 03-6880022.
Since the war began, MDA helicopters have carried out dozens of evacuation flights to and from hospitals such as Sheba, Beilinson, Ichilov, Shamir Asaf Harofe, Shaare Zedek, and Hadassah Ein Kerem, transporting dozens of injured civilians and soldiers from the field and from hospitals in the south. After initial treatment in the southern hospitals of Barzilai and Soroka, dozens of ambulances, intensive care vehicles, and specialized evacuation vehicles of Magen David Adom transferred injured individuals of all severity levels to hospitals throughout the country.
MDA calls on the public to heed the life-saving instructions of the security forces. For any medical need, dial 101 to reach MDA’s emergency hotline and to donate blood during the week at locations published on the MDA website: https://www.mdais.org/blood-donation
Testimony October 7 Romi Dar, 20 year old EMT, Netanya MDA station
I woke up at 6:30 from a red alert siren, I started reading reports and very quickly understood that something here is unusual. I wrote to the head of the volunteers in my district and I asked to go down south to help. I really didn’t manage to get organized and was already on an ambulance heading south. On the way we were caught by more sirens, we saw mushrooms of smoke all over the place, we heard horrifying reports. At that point I already understood that I might not get home from this day.
When we arrived at Ofakim station we began to set up an improvised hospital in the parking lot and very quickly injured and dead victims came in.
The event that I remember the most from that day between all the gunshot victims we tended to, is a Golani soldier who arrived with a severe gunshot wound to his neck, we evacuated him to the helicopter while his friend held pressure on the wound. I remember I was surprised from the calm demeaner they both had, that soldier was seriously injured and couldn’t even talk, but insisted on staying awake and breathing. After we put the victim on the helicopter, I took the other soldier who actually saved his friend’s life by applying pressure for over 4 hours aside, I told him what a hero his is, washed his hands which were full of congealed blood and gave him my phone to call his family and calm them that he’s okay. They were disconnected since that morning and didn’t even understand what was going on.
It was very painful for me to treat soldiers. Children. Who gave everything to keep us safe and paid a heavy toll.
Day 21 – Iron Swords War: Daily MDA Update
From last night until 17.00 today, MDA teams have treated 17 casualties, including: 18 year old male in moderate condition with shrapnel injuries, a 53 year old male in moderate condition injured as he ran for shelter, 12 casualties in mild condition as they headed for shelter, and 3 with anxiety symptoms.
Since the start of the war, MDA teams have treated thousands of casualties, including fatalities, and those injured in serious, moderate and mild condition, amongst them MDA staff who were saving lives. Continuing today, (Friday 27.10) MDA teams are on high alert. Some 1,400 MDA ambulances, including bulletproof are manned by MDA staff and volunteers who are saving lives, at times while under fire.
MDA Blood Services held blood drives today in the Jordan Valley, Jerusalem, Modiin, Zichron Yaakov and Bat Yam.
Since the onset of war (Saturday 7.10), MDA’s Blood Services have collected more than 52,000 blood donations from the public, and the blood components have been supplied to all hospitals for treatment of the casualties.
Since the war began, MDA helicopters have carried out dozens of evacuation flights to and from hospitals such as Sheba, Beilinson, Ichilov, Shamir Asaf Harofe, Shaare Zedek, and Hadassah Ein Kerem, transporting dozens of injured civilians and soldiers from the field and from hospitals in the south. After initial treatment in the southern hospitals of Barzilai and Soroka, dozens of ambulances, intensive care vehicles, and specialized evacuation vehicles of Magen David Adom transferred injured individuals of all severity levels to hospitals throughout the country.
MDA calls on the public to heed the life-saving instructions of the security forces. For any medical need, dial 101 to reach MDA’s emergency hotline and to donate blood during the week at locations published on the MDA website: https://www.mdais.org/blood-donation
This is how the murderers of Hamas sabotaged Magen David Adom ambulances
On the first day of the Iron Swords war, with the terrorist attacks of Hamas on the communities of the Western Negev, the terrorists also fired at the sides, wheels, and windshields of the Magen David Adom ambulance in Kissufim. The terrorists targeted the ambulance to disable it and prevent the medics and paramedics of MDA from providing medical assistance to the injured and evacuating them to hospitals.
Since the beginning of the “Iron Swords” war, three MDA workers and volunteers have been murdered – Aharon Chaimov, of blessed memory, who was killed when he was shot while driving an MDA ambulance on his way to treat the injured; Amit Man, of blessed memory, who was murdered by terrorists while treating the injured in Be’eri; and Aviya Hatzroni, of blessed memory, who was killed when he was shot by terrorists in Be’eri. In addition, four MDA workers and volunteers were injured.
Day 20 – Iron Swords War: MDA Daily Update
Day 18 – Iron Swords War: MDA Daily Update
In the 24 hours up until 19:25, Magen David Adom teams have treated 13 casualties including: 2 males aged 40 and 45, in Beer Yaakov and Holon, with mild injuries; 9 casualties in mild condition injured as they ran to sheltered areas, and 2 people suffering from anxiety symptoms. // A home in a Western Samaria town suffered a direct rocket hit. A 70 year old female and two males in their 20s who followed the Home Front Command instructions, took shelter during the Red Alert siren, and were completely uninjured.
Since the beginning of the war, MDA forces have treated thousands of casualties, dead, seriously, moderately and lightly injured, including MDA personnel who were involved in saving lives. Continuing today, (Tuesday 24.10), MDA forces are on high alert throughout the country. About 1,400 MDA ambulances, including bulletproof ambulances, are manned by MDA volunteers and employees who save lives sometimes under fire.
MDA’s Blood Services held blood drives today in Ramat Ishai, Mrar, Jerusalem, Maale Adumim, Yakir, Petach Tikva, Shoham, Lod and Shfaram. Since the outbreak of war (Saturday 7.10), MDA Blood Services have collected over 49,000 blood units from volunteer donors. The blood units and components were delivered to hospitals across Israel for treatment of the casualties.
Since the beginning of the war, MDA helicopters have carried out dozens of medevac missions and evacuated dozens of wounded civilians and soldiers from the area and the hospitals in the south to the Sheba hospitals in Tel Hashomer, Beilinson, Ichilov, Shamir-Assaf Harofeh, Shaare Zedek and Hadassah Ein Kerem. After initial treatment in the Barzilai and Soroka hospitals in the south, dozens of ambulances, intensive care vehicles and dedicated evacuation vehicles of Magen David Adom, transported injured people of all degrees of injury to hospitals throughout the country.
MDA appeals to the public and reminds them to adhere to the life-saving instructions of the security forces, and for any medical need to dial 101 to the MDA dispatch center, and to come and donate blood in the locations advertised on the MDA website – www.mdais.org/blood-donation
Day 16 – Iron Swords War: MDA Daily Update
In the 24 hours until 18:45 today *Magen David Adom teams have treated 5 casualties, including: a 60 year old male in moderate to serious condition with shrapnel injuries that occurred as he exited his vehicle to seek shelter in the Netivot region, and 4 casualties in mild condition who were injured while running to seek shelter in Ashkelon, Bat Yam and Sderot.
Since the beginning of the war, MDA forces have treated thousands of casualties, dead, seriously, moderately and lightly injured, including MDA personnel who were involved in saving lives. Continuing today, (Sunday 22.10), MDA forces are on high alert throughout the country. About 1,400 MDA ambulances, including bulletproof ambulances, are manned by MDA volunteers and employees who save lives sometimes under fire. MDA’s Blood Services held blood drives today in Karmiel, Caesarea, Shimsheet, Beer Yaakov, Ramat Hasharon, Jerusalem, Ariel and Kiryat Yam.
Since the outbreak of war (Saturday 7.10), MDA Blood Services have collected over 45,000 blood units from volunteer donors. The blood units and components were delivered to hospitals across Israel for treatment of the casualties. Since the beginning of the war, MDA helicopters have carried out dozens of medevac missions and evacuated dozens of wounded civilians and soldiers from the area and the hospitals in the south to the Sheba hospitals in Tel Hashomer, Beilinson, Ichilov, Shamir-Assaf Harofeh, Shaare Zedek and Hadassah Ein Kerem. After initial treatment in the Barzilai and Soroka hospitals in the south, dozens of ambulances, intensive care vehicles and dedicated evacuation vehicles of Magen David Adom, transported injured people of all degrees of injury to hospitals throughout the country.
*MDA appeals to the public and reminds them to adhere to the life-saving instructions of the security forces, and for any medical need to dial 101 to the MDA dispatch center, and to come and donate blood in the locations advertised on the MDA website – www.mdais.org/blood-donation
