Angels on motorbikes
As part of Magen David Adom’s ongoing efforts of to shorten response and arrival times of its teams, the emergency medicine technicians and paramedics arrive on scene events using various means of transportation, starting from the well-known ambulances and mobile intensive care units, through helicopters, electric bicycle and the “Bimbulance” vehicles that can reach even hardly accessible areas.
Angels on wheels
MDA’s motorcycle fleet includes over 550 motorcycles that reach event scenes throughout Israel, carrying a kit with the complete lifesaving equipment found in an ambulance: a defibrillator, a respirator, dressings, epinephrine injection for the treatment of life-threatening allergy attack and more. Among these motorcycles, there are heavy-duty motorcycles and intensive-care motorcycles operated by paramedics and equipped with intensive care equipment such as an advanced defibrillator and a variety of medications. Arrival on the motorcycles is easier and faster and in cases such as traffic accidents, the motorcyclists can take advantage of their excellent maneuverability and save valuable time.
MDA’s motorcyclists riding along the Israel roads, rushing to provide medical response in scenes of emergency events are well-known. But have you ever met MDA’s lady-motorcyclists? Now, in the ranks of MDA’s motorcycle unit, there six women volunteers all ‘crazy’ about their work and consider their mission of saving lives as their most significant goal.
Orit Gorgov
Orit Gorgov (32), an MDA motorcyclist, is a volunteer in Hayarkon Region. She actually an alternative medicine therapist who lives in Rosh Ha’ain. Between therapy sessions, she finds the time to rush out and help save lives, riding on the MDA motorcycle she keeps. “I have always loved motorcycles, and always rode. Three years ago, I received the MDA motorcycle and since then, I have been riding it in response to every call. I remember dozens of emergency calls in which I took part, and I’m proud and happy to assist and help those who need it.” As an ambulance driver, Orit explains the huge difference between the two vehicles. “The bike gives me the ability to arrive quicker and work more effectively, particularly in complicated road scenes, where it is necessary to bypass a large traffic jams”, she says.
Sharon Green
Sharon Green (47), a Mother of three who resides in Hofit, is a volunteer emergency medicine technician riding an MDA emergency motorbike and an ambulance driver at MDA’s Sharon region. “Until a year ago, I worked in product design at a company dealing with products for children and infants. I used to ride motorcycles and enjoyed that. Now, many years later, I am happy to ride a motorcycle again. I remember well the first call to which I was dispatched as an emergency motorcyclist. That event involved two persons who drowned in the sea, near the Beit Yanai Beach. I arrived there at record time, to help them, managed to provide a lifesaving treatment and both of them were saved,” said Sharon in excitement. “Another event that I will not forget was when I rode the bike to treat a two-year old girl, who choked on a foreign object. I was able to extract the foreign object from her trachea and the girl started breathing again. I am proud and happy to help the community and it gives me satisfaction. For me, being able to ride a motorcycle again and save lives, at the same time, that is a winning combination.”
Lita Berzon (29), a motorcyclist at MDA’s Carmel region: “Previously, I wanted to study veterinary medicine and started working in a veterinary clinic. Out of the desire to help save lives, I decided to attend an Emergency Medicine Technicians Course and afterwards I began working at MDA’s
Lita Berzon
Blood Bank. Being an MDA volunteer is my positive addiction and great passion. The motorcycle is a challenge. Riding a motorcycle also involves an element of risk, yet I know that thanks to the motorcycle I can do my best to save lives. I arrive quicker to where I have to treat the sick and wounded. Since I received the motorcycle and began riding it, I realized the difference in the field, in terms of the motorcycles’ availability and reach. I live in Kiryat Ata, and arrival on the scene of calls is very quick and efficient, especially during rush hours.”
Louise Rabinovitch (51), a motorcyclist at MDA’s Lachish region, has been in MDA for more than 11 years, during which she completed the Senior Emergency Medicine Technicians course. She has a motorcycle license for 12 years. Thanks to her long years of experience in motorcycle riding and her extensive knowledge in saving lives, it was only natural to give her an MDA motorcycle carrying an assortment of life-saving equipment. Louise says she started volunteering at MDA following a serious traffic accident she witnessed about 13 years ago. “I was present there, but did not know what to do. I was not able to help. I promised myself that it would never happen again.” Louise decided to rise up to the challenge. She joined the Magen David Adom organization, and now, she is the only woman among the motorcyclists in Ashdod, who arrives on event scenes riding her MDA motorcycle.
Asala Abbud
Asala Abbud (25) from Gush Halav, who only recently received her first aid MDA motorcycle: “I’m excited to receive the 500th MDA motorcycle, with which I can quickly reach the sick and wounded and save lives. I have just completed MDA’s special professional training in motorcycle riding, where we got tips for proper and safe riding. We practiced operational riding in the field, which included braking, maneuvers and safety measures. As an architect by profession and MDA volunteer, I travel around in the north region and I am confident that the motorcycle will allow me to reach the patients and wounded quickly and give them initial response in order to save their lives. ”
Stephanie Glick
Stephanie Glick (50) a resident of Kfar Tavor, married and the mother of a young girl, is a lecturer in the field of educational technology at Shanan College. For about 3 years, she has been volunteering on MDA’s ambulances and mobile intensive care units. “Recently, I renewed my motorcyclist’s license and two weeks ago I joined MDA’s motorcyclists’ unit at the Gilboa region in the Kfar Tavor area. It gives me immense satisfaction to help sick and injured people in their difficult moments, knowing I have a vehicle that allows me to arrive quickly on event scenes and save lives.”
Director of MDA’s Motorcycle Unit, Yehiel Moyal said: “The motorcycle unit volunteers at Magen David Adom are professional riders who, among other things, also ride intensive care motorcycles and heavy-duty motorcycles. All of MDA’s motorcyclists undergo special training for proper and safe riding, wearing a safety helmet and all the best means of protection required. The six lady-motorcyclists who volunteer in the ranks of MDA’s Motorcycle Unit make a great contribution in improving MDA’s times of arrival and have already the lives of many people.”
MDA Director General, Mr. Eli Bin added: “MDA, as Israel’s national rescue organisation, is working tirelessly to improve the times of arrival to events and to provide quick and professional medical care on the field in real-time. To this end, we operate across Israel, approximately 550 motorcycles, including intensive care motorcycles, in addition to ambulances and mobile intensive care units. The leading force of motorcyclist lifesavers are the women who are dispatched day and night, in the summer and in the winter, and sometimes while busy with their children or family dinners. Knowing that there is someone out there in need of their help, they leave everything behind and rush out to save lives. They are professionals, both in terms of medical treatment and in terms of operational riding, and are the first to reach the scene of events. I thank the dedicated volunteers of our Motorcycle Unit, for their work on our life-saving mission in the State of Israel.”
