PHOTOS: MDA Paramedic Treats and Transports an Injured Dog

[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

The shift began like any other for the paramedics on a Magen David Adom paramedic unit in the Ohr Akiva station. Paramedic Liat Mizrachi was working with EMT/driver Yasser Amash, EMT/3 Kathy Shusman and youth volunteer Thomas Mittleman.

Near the Binyamina train station they spotted a dog that had been struck by a vehicle. A passerby had begun caring for the dog which was moved to a sidewalk. It did not take long to realize the dog was not capable of moving and the MDA team headed by Liat, who has eight years’ experience in a veterinary hospital, approached to see what they can do to assist.

For Liat it was clear she was not going to abandon the dog, stating “I knew I could not just leave him on the side and asked my supervisors for a one-hour break, which I received. Another ambulance filled in to cover our area. I began treating the dog including evacuation of air that built up in her chest cavity, intravenous therapy and oxygen. The improvement was evident during our treatment and the dog began breathing easier and its color returned.

“I spoke with passersby in an effort to determine who owned the dog and got in touch with Orli Oren, the owner, who came to the area immediately. It was clear the animal required urgent transport to a veterinary facility, and I got in touch with Dr. Refael Farj, from Givat Ada, who agreed to receive the dog”.

The team was now faced with the matter of transporting the animal. This is where MDA Chief of Operations Eli Bin came into the picture, as he granted permission on a one-time basis to use the ambulance’s stretcher which would go into a veterinary ambulance to transport the dog. (No explanation is given as to why the ambulance stretcher was required).

Orli explained her dog ran away and they were looking for her, Jupa. When she heard Jupa had been struck by car she came immediately. She was full of praise for Liat and MDA.

Eli Bin praised the actions of his paramedic and the team, for showing compassion not only to humans but responded extraordinarily in this case as well. He wished Jupa a total and speedy recovery. Bin added the stretcher used to transport Jupa will not be returned to service but donated to the veterinary ambulance service.