After Suffering Cardiac Arrest, Shmuel Meets the MDA Team That Saved His Life
Like every Friday, Shmuel Asher (67) from Holon meets with his friends for their regular group run. During their last Friday meeting, after about an hour of running, Shmuel began feeling unwell
One of his running companions was concerned and offered to drive him home. During the journey, Shmuel's condition deteriorated rapidly as he suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed. His friend immediately pulled over and called MDA's 101 emergency hotline.
MDA Emergency Medical Dispatcher Talia Dibker, who received the call, provided instructions for performing CPR and dispatched First Response Units and an intensive care ambulance. First Response motorcycle units, MDA Emergency Medical Technicians Yossi Shushan Parsi and Eran Carmel, and an ambulance led by MDA EMT Lior Paz, who continued advanced resuscitation efforts including administering electrical shocks via defibrillator, successfully restoring Shmuel's heartbeat.
"Immediately upon arrival, I continued chest compressions, connected him to a defibrillator which recommended delivering an electrical shock, and after that his pulse returned," recounts MDA EMT Yossi Shushan Parsi, who was first to reach Shmuel.
Minutes later, an intensive care unit team led by MDA Paramedics Eden Soyonov, Dor Lebanon Kaufman, and Haim El-Nathan Levy arrived on scene, continued providing medical treatment to Shmuel, and evacuated him to the hospital while conscious.
This week (Monday), following his recovery, Shmuel visited the MDA station in Holon to meet with the MDA team that saved his life and express his gratitude. "We're happy to see you and hear that you've returned to training and running. Stay healthy and may you never need our help again," the MDA team that saved his life told Shmuel.
"I thank you for acting quickly and saving my life. You are angels and I wish you all the best and may you continue saving lives," Shmuel responded gratefully.
