Magen David Adom reports that hundreds of youths around Israel are taking part in summer training programs.

Officials in MDA report 680 youths who volunteer for MDA completed their training courses. In the coming weeks, MDA will host a course for young instructors as well as a course for first aid instructors. In addition, dozens of youths ages 12-14 have taken part in ‘CPR Camp’ in MDA stations around Israel.

For MDA the summer training has become a tradition as the young volunteers take numerous courses to improve their skills. 680 of the young volunteers took part in the MDA camp program in July, taking part in training for a mass casualty incident as well.

In August MDA hosts courses for various certifications, including certification of new instructors. 130 MDA volunteers are registered for these instructor courses. The graduates will becomes the next generation teachers for the young volunteers that join MDA. They will be certified to give a 60-hour first aid course as well as teaching CPR.

Close to 1,000 youths age 15 are expected to join the ranks of the EMS organization nationwide after completing first aid courses. They will then be certified to volunteer in the system as the current young volunteers work their way up the ladder or leave the organization.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)