MDA israel

In a special event at Magen David Adom's campus in Ramla, MDA, alongside the European Union Embassy in Israel, launched the groundbreaking safety initiative "Scene Safer" for high-risk situations.

Attending the event were the Ambassador of the European Union to Israel, Dimiter Tzantchev, the Ambassador of Chile to Israel, Jorge Carvajal San Martín, the First Secretary of Malta, representatives from the Italian and Spanish embassies in Israel, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health Director, ISERD - Israel's R&D directorate with the European Union, Director General of Magen David Adom, Eli Bin, and senior executives from Magen David Adom.

The new "Scene Safer" model - a part of the "No Fear" project (funded by the European Comission under HORIZON 2020 framework program) - offers guidelines to increase the safety of medical personnel during deliberate attacks, enabling ambulance teams to offer crucial first aid, save lives, and safeguard their own team.

Guests at the event were introduced to the program and got a firsthand look at the state-of-the-art technologies available to Magen David Adom, including intelligent information systems and advanced transportation vehicles. This innovative protocol is already adopted at MDA and will also be adopted by medical organizations globally.

At the end of the event, the guests were invited to a display in the Magen David Adom courtyard featuring the advanced cutting-edge tools and systems used by EMTs and paramedics. The attendees reviewed the command and control system that is installed in MDA's Joint National Dispatch Center, an ambulance and mobile intensive care unit (MICU) were displayed, as well as specialized vehicles such as the Unimog truck ambulance that is capable of evacuating 4 critical patients from a complex scene with difficult access, such as after earthquakes and flooding. Following the display, the guests, led by Dr. Orit Frankel, toured Magen David Adom's groundbreaking underground bulletproof blood bank, a world-first facility equipped with the latest technology that provides the blood supply to the hospitals throughout Israel.

Chaim Rafalowski, Director of Disaster Management  at Magen David Adom who led  the work  "No Fear" project, said: "Today, we unveiled the "No Fear" project, a groundbreaking initiative designed to ensure safer on-site operations during attacks where complete safety is impossible. Our goal is to equip EMTs, paramedics,  MDA volunteers and EMS personnel globaly with the knowledge and tools to enhance their safety in high-risk situations. As a part of the "Horizon 2020" program by the European Union, the "No Fear" project has created a strong network  among industry , academia, and practioners  over the past five years. Our discussions have centered on bridging the gap between products,  academic knowledge and field practices, ensuring we cater to the most pressing needs. The "Safer Scene" concept encourages our EMTs and paramedics to pause, assess, understand, and comprehensively evaluate a scene, leading to more informed and safer decisions."

ISERD manager Mr. Danny Seker: "I would like to congratulate the participants on the successful completion of the project and wish all of us that soon we will successfully implement it in the field as well."

Mr. Ophir Kariv, Head of the Economic Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Today's unveiling of the "No Fear" project fills me with a sense of reassurance and optimism as an Israeli citizen on several fronts. The first is Magen David Adom, Israel's National Rescue Organization, a global-leader in its field, a professional and cutting-edge organization, and this project is just one example of its spirit of innovation. The "No Fear" project provides us with an enhanced sense of security and the knowledge that they are a leading partner collaborating with other global leading organizations, with MDA not only imparting its vast expertise but also benefits from shared knowledge. I congratulate Magen David Adom and our esteemed partners in Europe and beyond."

EU Ambassador Dimiter Tzantchev: "First and foremost, I'd like to thank you for the invitation to this event, marking the collaboration between the European Union and the State of Israel. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to visit Magen David Adom. We greatly appreciate your efforts in saving lives and providing humanitarian aid that is helping others. We are very pleased that you are doing this thanks to the assistance from the European Union, particularly through the "Horizon 2020" program, and we hope that we can continue the successful cooperation, in order to continue to advance the State of Israel's technological advances through the resources provided by the European Union. Wishing you all a good and sweet New Year."

Magen David Adom Director General Eli Bin: "There are people present here who dedicate their time day thinking about how to save lives in the State of Israel, and our collaboration with the European Union is a life-saving partnership. The European Union invests in Magen David Adom,  in research and development capabilities, to develop important ideas, both for the State of Israel as well as for the European Union, as we create solutions derived from our extensive experience as Israel's national medical and rescue organization, and that provides the response to events here in the State of Israel, to any emergency situation, and especially in extreme events.

Safety remains paramount. At Magen David Adom, we prioritize the well-being of our teams and go to great lengths to ensure their safety. Mr. Ambassador, I commend you for the unwavering support and warmth extended towards Magen David Adom. A heartfelt thank you to all the ambassadors present, the dedicated representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who stand by Magen David Adom's side in all endeavors regarding the Red Cross and especially EU-specific matters. My gratitude also extends to the Chilean ambassador who graces us with his presence, and the representatives from the Ministry of Internal Security and the Ministry of Health of the State of Israel, who elevate Magen David Adom's status as a national and pioneering institution."

Video from the event - https://youtu.be/QwQ5B876n0Y