FIRST REPORT: The Jewish community of Miami-Dade County is pleased to announce that Hatzalah of Miami-Dade is commencing its operations as a volunteer emergency response service in the area. Over the past two years Hatzalah been gathering resources to be able to provide a supplementary emergency response service to residents of North Miami Beach and Aventura. Boruch Hashem, they are now able to begin coverage in these areas – with 30 trained and dedicated volunteers.

Hatzalah will officially launch this Motzei Shabbos (Parshas Bishalach) at midnight. The 24hr emergency hotline number is 305-919-4900.

IMORTANT NOTE: Hatzalah is currently NOT covering the Miami Beach area. If you need emergency medical treatment, please call 911.

In this following paragraphs, you will find information on what Hatzalah is, how to contact Hatzalah, and in which areas they are currently responding.

Hatzalah of Miami-Dade, Inc. (“Hatzalah”) is a volunteer not-for-profit organization. Our primary mission is to save lives by providing basic life support services in those vital first few minutes of an emergency situation until an ambulance arrives, with appropriate sensitivity to the religious and cultural needs of our community. While we are supported and staffed by the Jewish community, Hatzalah provides care at no cost equally to all who are in need, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity.

All Hatzalah members are Florida State certified EMT’s. All members are fully equipt with AED’s, oxygen, trauma bags, two-way-radios, and other life-saving equiptment. Various Hatzalah members, including its Executive Director and a Coordinator have years of experience as members of Flatbush Hatzolah.

After you call 9-1-1, Hatzalah can be called for any medical emergency, 24/7/365, including on Shabbos, Yom Tov and even Yom Kippur. If you are unsure whether Hatzalah should be called, make the call. During an emergency, and especially on Shabbos, some people have a tendency to search for a Hatzalah member they already know, by going to their home or Shul, or calling them on the phone. This can result in significant delays in obtaining help and is strongly discouraged. Calling the Hatzalah emergency number is the most reliable way to obtain help quickly.

Hatzalah of Miami-Dade is not a replacement for 911. We do not provide emergency or non-emergency transport. Our service is designed only to act as a bridge until an official ambulance can arrive. We strongly encourage you to call 911 for all serious emergencies first – or at the same time as you call Hatzalah. This will insure that needed transport and Advanced Life Support services are not delayed. Hatzalah dispatchers will always ask whether 911 has already been notified, and will call 911 on your behalf if you have not yet called them yourself.

YWN wishes Hatzalah much success with their organization, and hope their services are never required.

(Yehuda Drudgestein / M-13 / M-18)