MDA'S "FIRST SEVEN MINUTES" INITIOATIVE
The first few minutes after an injury can be critical, especially in mass casualty events. Within the framework of the "First Seven Minutes" initiative, MDA medics and paramedics hold seminars in communities around the world, teaching how to behave when caught in an emergency, in which every minute can be critical.
Magen David Adom, as Israel's national rescue organization, has accumulated considerable experience in coping mass casu
alties. The goal of the "First Seven Minutes" initiative, which has been developed and led by MDA's Deputy Director General – Community Dr. Eli Yaffe, is to convey the knowledge and skills of Magen David Adom medics and paramedics to communities around the world.
Over the past year and a half, MDA teams have been active, as part of the initiative, in more than 15 countries and have held special seminars for more than 2,000 participants in Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands and more.
Standing behind the initiative is the idea that, in many cases, saving lives depends on time. Guided by the MDA teams, participants learn how to provide the initial lifesaving medical care in emergency events, such as terror attacks. Among other things, the participants learn how to stop critical bleeds and how to identify which of the injured should get to the hospital first.
The four-hour seminar is conducted by MDA senior medics and paramedics. After the opening lecture and practice drills the team simulates a mass casualty scenario. The seminar is instructed by one to four MDA workers, with the number of participants ranging from 30 to 100. In all, thirty four MDA workers were trained to instruct this seminar.
MDA paramedic Raphael Herbst, coordinator of the "First Seven Minutes" initiative: "The purpose of the seminars, which are done in cooperation with the World Zionist Congress, is to give people the tools to cope with difficult situations. As part of the training we use as little medical equipment as possible in order to show the participants they can be of help in any situation. It is amazing to see how the community's sense of competence rises every time".
MDA's Deputy Director General – Community Dr. Eli Yaffe: "The goal of this initiative is to teach members of the communities how to act during the first few critical minutes of a mass casualty event. We are teaching citizens what to do until the emergency teams arrive, and how to help once they do".
MDA Director General, Eli Bin: "As Magen David Adom we are saving lives every day throughout the country, and the satisfaction is tremendous. It is exciting to see how, with the unique experience accumulated by MDA medics and paramedics in Israel, we are able to influence and contribute to the saving of lives around the world. The "First Seven Minutes" is one of the initiatives we are most proud of, and it is one of the many examples of MDA's commitment to helping, anyone anywhere, wherever possible".
email first few minutes - raphaelh@mda.org.il
