MDA israel

When people think of MDA, they often imagine sirens, emergencies, and life-saving interventions in the most critical moments. But in communities like Beit Shemesh, there is another reality, one where paramedics are just as likely to deliver babies as they are to respond to trauma calls.

Paramedic and MICU team leader Yitzhak Bendahan has seen this firsthand. “I never actually counted,” he says with a laugh, “but I think I’ve already been part of around 150 births over the years.” Working in an area with a high birth rate and with the nearest hospital being 30 minutes away, he and his team frequently encounter labors hat progress too quickly to reach an emergency room in time.

“Sometimes in a single 24-hour shift, you can have two or even three births,” he says. “Other times, nothing for weeks. But overall, it is actually very common.”

MDA teams are always ready. Equipped with specialized birth kits and years of training, they turn homes, cars, and even the roadside into delivery rooms within moments. For experienced mothers, especially, labor can move faster than usual, creating situations where paramedics become the first to welcome a newborn into the world.

For Bendahan, these moments reflect an even deeper meaning of the job. “People think we mainly save lives,” he explains. “But that’s actually a small part of what we do. We help people. Sometimes it’s an elderly person who fell and just needs someone to lift them. Sometimes it’s someone in emotional distress who needs someone to talk to. And sometimes, it’s bringing a new life into the world.

Because beyond the sirens and urgency, their mission is not only about saving lives.