Leading up to Yom HaZikaron as well as Israel’s 69th Independence Day, both of which take place next week, MDA is preparing to expand its operation and raise its alertness throughout the country to medically secure ceremonies, events and celebrations.

Following an evaluation held by MDA Director General, Eli Bin, it has been decided that MDA teams throughout Israel will be reinforced with additional EMTs, Paramedics, First Aid providers, ambulances, Mobile Intensive Care Units, Medi-Cycles, ATVs and other unique, designated rescue vehicles such as e-bikes, segways and Intensive Care jeep supervisors. These will medically secure memorial ceremonies at memorial sites and military cemeteries.

On the eve of Independence Day large teams will spread around entertainment centers and celebrations, ready to provide preliminary medical treatment to anyone in need and answer to any type of medical emergency. The following day alertness levels will continue to run high as Israelis visit parks, nature reserves and resorts. MDA helicopters will be one standby as in any day in order to provide those in need with a rapid evacuation. MDA teams will continue to handle routine medical cases simultaneously during Memorial Day and the holiday.

MDA Director General, Eli Bin: “As every year, MDA will raise its alertness leading up to Yom HaZikaron and Independence Day. MDA forces will operate in significantly larger teams and in full cooperation with other Israeli security forces to provide rapid and instant medical treatment to any need that may arise. I call the public to act safely and cautiously throughout roads, during celebrations and on trips. I wish everyone a happy Independence Day.”

On Yom HaZikaron Magen David Adom will continue its blood donation campaign to maintain the national blood bank stock requirement. In Zichron Yaakov, a special memorial ceremony will take place for the 22nd consecutive year, encouraging residents to donate blood to the national blood services center. Since 1996 12,000 people have donated in the capacity of this initiative.

Eli Bin, MDA Director-General, said in a statement: “The blood donated every day throughout Israel has significant importance to saving the lives of the sick and wounded. The semi-annual initiative of the Zichron community is touching and stands as an example. I call the general public to donate blood at the stations spread across Israel. MDA thanks all donors and remembers the fallen soldiers and victims of terror.”

Magen David Adom will hold a number of ceremonies throughout its stations next week to remember the fallen. MDA representatives will also partake in ceremonies at cemeteries and memorial sites. During the main MDA ceremony at its headquarters in Tel Aviv, the names of fallen MDA employees and volunteers will be read out. Within Magen David Adom, there are 81 families who have lost loved ones fallen during military service or acts of terror. Every year Magen David Adom embraces all of them on Yom HaZikaron.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)