THE FRENCH ARE COMING

During the summer months, the city of Netanya fills up with French tourists.  Everyone is speaking French in the shops, the hotels, the streets and on the beaches.

Magen David Adom has a campaign during the summer months for the prevention of accidents and injuries.  Within the framework of this campaign, the French Desk of Magen David Adom help CPR training sessions during the past month on the Sironit beach in Netanya.  Scores of French tourists took part in these training sessions during which they learnt about and practiced life saving activities.

Elsa, a volunteer trainer on the French Desk tells:  "we arrived on the beach with CPR dolls and MDA flags and announced on the lifeguard's loudspeaker that we were starting lessons in CPR in French.  Immediately after the announcement tens of curious spectators gathered around us who were interested in the CPR course.  This is the first time that I have taught on the sea shore and it is an experience not to be missed".

David, a tourist from France recounts ‘that during the course of the training session we were told to dial 101 to Magen David Adom and we also learnt how to behave in the hot weather here in Israel.  In addition we also learnt basic CPR which I am certain can only be of use".

In addition to the activities on the beaches, volunteers of the French Desk handed out notices in the hotels, synagogues and community centres for French speakers, about the prevention of accidents during the summer.  David Elbaz, a volunteer of the French Desk pointed out "whilst giving out the explanatory material in the Netanya synagogues the heads of the communities and the Rabbis pointed out the importance of prevention of summer accidents.  Unfortunately we are witnesses to many cases of drowning and injuries as a result of undue basic care.  The campaign of Magen David Adom aims to teach the population how to properly protect itself during the summer".

The French Desk also carried out a series of tours this week for the donors from Magen David Adom in France and Belgium.  Dr. Lalouche, a representative of Magen David Adom from the city of Nice on the French Riviera pointed out that "the technological capability of the Magen David Adom organisation enables it to respond to events within a very short period of time, a matter with increases the chances of saving lives.  After I saw the activities being carried out in the National Dispatch Centre I was filled with strength, and immediately on my return home I will continue in the important work from Magen David Adom".   

In the hotels all over the country, the French Desk distributed thousands of fliers for the French tourists telling about the Gala evening which will take place in October in Paris in aid of Magen David Adom.  At this Gala Evening which marks the 80th anniversary of Magen David Adom, the Israeli singing star "Shlomo Arzi" will appear in a special production for the Friends of MDA in France.