Current Status
Though MDA currently staffs approximately 1,200 emergency medical technicians, paramedics and emergency physicians, it still relies heavily on over 10,000 volunteers who serve in both operational and administrative capacities. MDA headquarters and its blood bank are located at the Tel HaShomer complex in the center of the country. The organization operates 119 stations over the country, with a fleet of over 700 ambulances nationwide. Among them: mobile intensive care units (MICU), special ambulances equipped for mass casualty events, and armored ambulances. Most of the fleet is made up of regular size vans providing Basic Life Support. These are called "Lavan" (which in Hebrew means "White") due to their external aspect and to differentiate them from the MICU which have orange stripes on the sides. They are manned by EMTs who generally have ranks equivalent to Basic and Intermediate EMTs in the US. In Israel, they are called "Ma'ar" (first responders), "Ma'ar Bachir" (Certified first responder over 18, with some additional training), "Chovesh" (EMT-B) and "Chovesh Bachir" (EMT-I). Ambulance drivers are EMTs or better with a drivers license for emergency vehicles. MICUs similar to the US Type II units and manned by paramedics and physicians respond only to the most medically serious cases. They are called Natan (if a physician is on board) or Atan (if it is only staffed by paramedics and EMTs). Major stations include special units (called "Taaran") for responding to mass casualty events like natural disasters or terrorist attacks.
In some cases Air ambulance service is provided by Israeli Air Force 669 unit with MEDEVAC helicopters, however in 2008 MDA started to provide paramedics for three EMS MBB Bo 105s imported from Germany by Lahak Aviation Ltd. These three helicopters (out of four brought by Lahak) are being operated by Lahak Aviation's operating company, Shapirit Air Services Ltd. as Ambulance helicopters. Previous attempts by MDA to integrate independent helicopter service in the 1970s were unsuccessful due to high cost.
Unique among civilian emergency medical services due to its role as national aid society according to the Geneva Conventions, MDA can become an auxiliary arm of the Israel Defense Forces during times of war.
De-commissioned MDA ambulances have been donated to a number of kibbutzim, moshavim, factories and communities on both sides of the “Green Line." Crews manning these lifesaving vehicles are trained and certified by Magen David Adom.
Read more about this topic: Magen David Adom
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