MDA israel

Almost everyone has a tradition that accompanies them through life. Some are born into one, others create it themselves. Ilan Meltzer, 71, from Tel Aviv, has a tradition that has been part of his life for 26 years. It began with a dramatic event, when it was unclear whether he would even survive, and became a living legend among his friends and at the Magen David Adom emergency dispatch center. This year, a small but meaningful addition was made to that tradition.

On New Year's Eve between December 1999 and January 2000, welcoming the new millennium with easing fears over the Y2K bug, Ilan, who used to host an annual New Year’s Eve party at his home, began to feel unwell. Despite his firm objections, his then-wife called an MDA mobile intensive care unit to their home while Ilan went to rest in his bedroom.

A few minutes after her call to the dispatch center, Ilan felt a temporary relief from the pain, and his wife called back to cancel the ambulance. However, the dispatcher recognized that the relief was only momentary and that Ilan was in a life-threatening condition. She decided not to cancel the unit and informed Ilan’s wife that the team would continue on their way.

When the MDA team arrived, Ilan’s condition deteriorated rapidly. He went into cardiac arrest and collapsed. MDA paramedics fought to save his life, performing prolonged resuscitation that included medications, chest compressions, ventilation, and delivering an electric shock with a defibrillator until his condition stabilized. He was then rushed to the hospital’s cardiac unit.

After a period of recovery, Ilan rehabilitated and returned to his life—carrying with him a deep imprint of those life-saving moments provided by MDA. Since then, and for the past 26 years, Ilan has arrived every year about half an hour after midnight on New Year’s Eve at the MDA dispatch center, handing out sweets to staff and volunteers and sharing his story.

This year, after his traditional visit to the dispatch center, Ilan decided not only to express gratitude to MDA teams, but also to learn from them how to save lives, just as they saved his. Recently, MDA paramedic Orian Lucatz came to the Meltzer family home and conducted a CPR and defibrillator-use course for Ilan, his partner, and two of his children. The training provided them with tools and knowledge for responding to medical emergencies, and for Ilan, brought closure on a story that has followed him for more than a quarter of a century.

This month, MDA will mark Defibrillator Awareness Day, aiming to raise public awareness about the availability of defibrillators in public spaces. A defibrillator is a simple device to operate; anyone, including children and adults alike can use it to save lives, even without prior medical knowledge or experience. When opened, it provides recorded voice instructions guiding the user through its operation and the necessary resuscitation steps. Using a defibrillator is the primary factor in survival in cases of cardiac arrest; without it, survival chances are low. On February 22, 2026, Defibrillator Awareness Day, Magen David Adom will set up information and training stations across the country. MDA EMTs, paramedics, and youth volunteers will teach the public life-saving skills, including the use of a defibrillator in the event of cardiac arrest. MDA invites the public to learn how to use a defibrillator and gain life-saving tools - calling MDA’s emergency number 101 and performing CPR until MDA teams arrive.