In the video: MDA medics in action/Photo: MDA Hasbara
The testimonies from the terrible massacre on Black Saturday and in the midst of Simchat Torah that the Jewish people experienced continue to pile up and shock the entire world. But at the same time, many find comfort in the many stories of heroism that are slowly being revealed. Heroes who have faced the greatest horrors and will gain world fame when everything is forgotten and calmed down.
Prominent among these stories of heroism are the stories of Magen David Adom medics who were on the front lines of the rescue effort at that moment.
"The terrorists passed literally a few meters from the station, driving in vans with submachine guns and firing in all directions, if they had turned left, we probably wouldn't be here today," says Georgi Goliak, a veteran Magen David Adom paramedic who worked tirelessly during the massacre. Georgi was on his way to a routine shift at the MDA station in Sderot. Just before he reached the station, he began to hear gunfire on the road he was traveling on, and casualties began arriving at the station, among them seriously and critically. During the initial medical treatment for the wounded, massive gunfire was heard outside, and the team decided to lock the doors, shut themselves inside the station and continue medical treatment for the seriously wounded who remained at the station until they could be evacuated to hospitals in a bulletproof intensive care vehicle. "At that moment we understood the magnitude of the incident and that we were in field conditions, at that point we were without reinforcement of additional teams. We continued to treat the wounded while we heard the shots all around us. We feared for our lives, but we continued the rescue work."
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MDA medics hiding during rocket fire at Israel/MDA information
MDA medic evacuates injured person by ambulance/MDA information
Another medic who arrived at the scene of the massacre describes the horrific scenes: "There were vehicles directly hit by machine gun fire, shattered windows and blood stains on the seats. We immediately began sorting and treating the wounded, in various wounded situations, with bursts of shots heard right next to us. Some of the injured were in critical condition and we struggled for every breath to save them."
The difficult experiences described in these and other chilling testimonies illustrate the harsh reality in which MDA operates even in ordinary times, and certainly in times of war and terror such as last week. Under live fire, and despite the personal danger involved in the rescue operation, the teams continue with endless dedication to save lives and treat the wounded.
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MDA medic in action/information MDA medic during conversation with MDA soldier/information
Unfortunately, the complex reality in which the State of Israel finds itself will invite additional challenges on the ground. Due to the growing days of fighting and the enormous need to arm medical equipment in the field, Magen David Adom is currently launching an extensive fundraising campaign for the purchase of emergency equipment. Due to the large number of arenas, MDA requires emergency equipment in order to reinforce teams in the various arenas, so that the teams will be able to provide life-saving treatment in the field even without the presence of an ambulance, due to the need for many evacuations simultaneously. The required equipment includes vests, helmets, trauma kits, resuscitation kits, advanced bleeding stop kits and tourniquets, monitors, walkie-talkies and more. Any donation, small or large, can save lives and enable MDA's rescue activity to continue during these complex times.
MDA Director General Eli Bin calls on the public to donate and help enable the teams to continue operating during this complex period: "We need donations and support to continue to provide urgent medical assistance to anyone who needs it, anywhere, anytime, even in complex and dangerous situations." He adds, "Our volunteers risk their lives every day to save others. They deserve all the support we can give."
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