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A major drill involving more than 80 emergency medical and rescue personnel from all over Europe was recently held in Austria, as part of the EC’s DRIVER + project, which deals with emergency and disaster management innovation.
The purpose of the drill was to test tools and solutions for responding to emergencies, with emphasis on volunteer management in disaster situations, using a methodology designed in the project that tests innovative tools. The drill is funded by the European Commission, under the FP7 – The Seventh Framework program (R&D program), which funds the DRIVER + project.
MDA paramedic Dorel Arzuan was sent as Israeli representative, and experimented with the use of innovative tools that allow disaster management and operations. Among the innovative tools, a mobile app to send information to the crisis center, and an additional applet designed for emergency teams, enabling sending and receiving information from operations center. The paramedic also attended a professional seminar, which dealt with the psychosocial support needed by rescue personnel and volunteers during a disaster.
“These were a very challenging and meaningful two days, where we practiced using innovative applications for reporting and updating from disaster zones,” said MDA paramedic Dorel Arzuan. “I am delighted to have been involved in such an important international project that deals with disaster preparedness. I was excited to see that conference participants from around the world know and appreciate the work of Magen David Adom, and want to learn from us.”
MDA Director General Eli Bin: “The cooperation between MDA and the EU in the trial is another expression of the technological capabilities of Magen David Adom, Israel’s National Emergency Medical and Blood Services Organization, which is considered an expert in the field. Our technological strength allows us to further develop means to shorten response times, collect critical data from the field, and other life-saving operations. ”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Australia or Austria?
Stone the crows! Can’t ya get it bl**dy right mate? AUSTRALIA, is not that other horrible place. We are the good guys who helped a mate at Be’er Sheva, right?
Good grief! Who is writing your headlines? Better get someone else who is a) a native speaker and reader of English who can read an AP report and understand it, and b) someone with at least basic knowledge of geography.
(But I did learn a new phrase in Aussie slang.)