PHOTOS: 579 People Were Treated By MDA At Rashbi Celebrations In Meron

(PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

Throughout Lag B’Omer weekend hundreds of first responders, EMTs and paramedics treated 579 people celebrating in the yearly Meron celebrations. They suffered injuries in degrees varying from mild to severe as a result of wounds, burns, dehydration and other medical issues. Out of the 579 patients 54 required further medical treatment and were evacuated to Ziff and Poriah hospitals in MDA basic life support and paramedic ambulances. Among them was an 18-year-old male who was severely injured as a result of falling from height.

Hundreds of the medical staff stationed in Meron medically secured visitors of the site and provided them with medical treatment at two clinics MDA set up nearby. Also, stationed at the site were Intensive Care Units, Mobile Mass Casualty Incidents Stations, Ambulances, Medicycles, and ATVs. MDA’s Northern helicopter was also on standby.

MDA teams in other parts of Israel were also busy medically securing those celebrating Lag B’Omer with bonfires. MDA EMTs and paramedics treated 12 individuals who suffered injuries such as smoke inhalation, burns and wounds. All were injured mildly. Five of them required further medical treatment and were evacuated to hospitals.

MDA Director General, Eli Bin: “Preparing ahead of time and collaborating with the Police, the IDF, the Fire Department and the authority for holy sites as well as the high alertness level at which MDA operated proved successful as teams were able to provide professional and rapid medical treatment to all 579 individuals who required it during the Rashbi celebrations in Meron. I would also like to thank MDA forces in other areas of the country who operated to provide medical treatment to those celebrating the holiday with bonfires.”