Successfully Completed the MDA Medics Course Test - and Saved a Life that Day
About a week ago, Yehoshua Rothstein finished the final exam in the MDA EMT course - with a score of 100. He arrived at the Haganah train station in Tel Aviv to return to his home in Rehovot, when he heard an announcement requesting immediate medical assistance.
The new graduate arrived at the scene of the incident within seconds and identified a 57-year-old man lying on the platform unconscious with no pulse and not breathing. Yehoshua, along with a doctor who also arrived at the scene, began performing intensive resuscitation operations, using a defibrillator that is regularly placed at the train station. A few minutes later, MDA first responders on medi-cycles arrived at the scene along with an ambulance and a mobile intensive care unit. Thanks to the electric shocks and the quick treatment of Yehoshua and the MDA teams - Igor Kirkopolo's life was saved and his heart beat again
Kirkopolo, a resident of Netanya, is was evacuated to the cardiac catheterization lab and further treatment at Ichilov Hospital, fully conscious and suffering from a heart attack. The two met in an exciting reunion, during which Kirkopolo thanked Yehoshua for the professionalism that saved his life.
Igor Kirkopolo, whose life was saved, said after the meeting: "I am already feeling fine and recovering. I want to thank MDA and Yehoshua for saving my life, what I did for me is really exciting. Until last year, I worked as a maintenance manager at the factory and I was, among other things, responsible for the maintenance of the appliances. Today I understand firsthand the importance of this device - which simply saves lives."
Yehoshua Rothstein, a new EMT added excitedly: "After the test at the MDA station I was on my way back home and waiting for a train at the defense station in Tel Aviv. Suddenly they called for a medical aid call and ran to the scene. I know that every minute is critical so I started with chest compressions and used the defibrillator just as we learned. I am very happy that I was able to help and save lives thanks to the knowledge I acquired at MDA. I was very excited to see Igor, who only a week ago was between life and death, standing here by my side with his family smiling and healthy - and it's all worth it."
Eli Bin, MDA Director General: "Yehoshua, despite his fresh training, provided fast and professional medical care and saved lives on his first day in the field using a device from time to time. Many tragedies. MDA has taken on the accessibility of the devices in the public domain and is working to constantly increase their number in the public space in order to save lives anywhere and anytime."
