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As Part of MDA’s Collaboration with the Philippine Red Cross, Which Began over Two Years Ago, a Mass Casualty Incident Drill Took Place in the Philippines.

The Philippines is a country prone to hazards that require high activity of skilled medical and rescue forces due to disasters such as lethal typhoons, active volcanos, strong earthquakes and even armed conflicts. These are only some of the dangers looming over the residents of the Philippines, which is perceived as a disaster-struck state. As part of the collaboration that began over two years ago between MDA and the Philippine Red Cross, an MDA delegation recently arrived in the Philippines, where it trained instructors for emergency medicine teams on dealing with Mass Casualty Incidents.

The training, led by the Philippine Red Cross in collaboration with MDA, the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the Israeli Embassy in the Philippines and the American Red Cross, focused on response to Mass Casualty Incidents in order to strengthen lifesaving capabilities and emergency response in the country. As part of the training, a practical simulation took place.

As part of the mission, a Mass Casualty Incident drill took place in Batangas. The drill was conducted by graduates of two EMT courses instructed by instructors who were trained by MDA last year. The Medical Director of the simulated MCI is a graduate of a training for instructors on Mass Casualty Incidents, who was able to apply her newly acquired skills in the drill.

The drill was witnessed by representatives of local authorities and an emergency organization in the city, who noted that it was the first time a Mass Casualty Incident drill simulating a mass traffic accident took place in the city. They also noted the importance of the drill and their willingness to actively participate in similar drills within the near future, as well as send participants to EMT trainings.

Menachem Blumental, Senior MDA paramedic and one of the instructors who participated in the delegation: “This is a continuous collaboration between MDA and the Philippine Red Cross. Over the past few years, the Philippines Red Cross has been able to improve, with the help of MDA’s professional trainings, their emergency response system that aims to provide response to disasters. During the last mission, we worked on improving preparedness and management of Mass Casualty Incidents. They are eager to learn and improve. They hosted us amazingly, and the general experience was interesting and contributed to both sides.”

MDA Director-General, Eli Bin: “Two years ago, when MDA received the request to assist the emergency system of the Philippine Red Cross we immediately responded positively and today, the project has come to fruition and the results of the successful drills are apparent. Magen David Adom is part of the International Red Cross Movement and is always willing to share, lend a hand and help anywhere in the world. Dealing with Mass Casualty Incidents for many years, unfortunately, has granted MDA with expertise, and we are ready to share that knowledge anywhere in the world where there’s interest in saving lives. Magen David Adom will continue to cooperate with any national Societies, countries and organizations in order to improve emergency response nationally and internationally. We are happy to contribute from our knowledge and experience that we’ve accumulated, and we’d love to also do that in the future. The value of saving lives is our main mission and it sees no borders.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: MDA spokesman unit)