MDA israel

Gilad Zargari is just 17 years old, and has already helped save lives. How? Ran is a Magen David Adom youth volunteer.

Gilad started volunteering with MDA a year ago. He, along with many of those his age started to volunteer with MDA as part of a national scheme that sees teenagers completing many hours of volunteering throughout their high-school years in order to graduate. He also works as a pizza delivery boy.

Last Saturday night as he was making one of his deliveries, he heard a commotion and screams at Ran and Nofar’s address. Instead of turning around and walking away, he knocked on the door and when Ran answered, Gilad explained that he volunteers with MDA and asked if he could help. 

“We’d just called an ambulance as our baby was unconscious,” said Ran, the baby’s father. “We’d completely forgotten about ordering a pizza when Gilad arrived.”

Ran showed Gilad through to where their baby was, and Gilad realized immediately that she was having a febrile convulsion – a potentially dangerous seizure brought on in babies and young children when their temperature gets too high. Gilad immediately put his training into action: he contacted MDA’s 101 Dispatch Center to report what was happening and asked for a MICU, then wrapped the baby in a damp towel to help bring down her temperature.

By the time the MICU team had arrived, the baby had stopped seizing and was stable.

“I’ve been on many calls in the last year, but this is one of the most exciting and unusual!” said Gilad. “Life presents us with opportunities to do good, and I’m very pleased that I was there and merited to help save a life.”

“We’re so grateful that he realized there was a problem and introduced himself as a MDA volunteer,” said the parents. “We received a pizza with a life-saving side order!”

MDA Director General Eli Bin summed up the event: “Gilad’s actions are an example of the quality and seriousness of the youth volunteers in our organization.”