2024-03 Israel

Israel 34,

April 19, 2024,

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday I worked in Richon Lezion, a town near Tel Aviv. One again, after a slow start we ended up being busy all evening. I started my shift at 2:45 and finished tired at 11:00, an evening shift. We got an urgent call while driving in the ambulance. The driver who is also the leading para-medic on the team was a very experienced driver. He put on the siren, Rrrr rrrrr and wey yew, wey yew and wup wup varying the siren and tone at different times. We were in a race against time in a vehicle that drove like a Ferrari. We weaved in and out of the traffic, on the side walk, in between cars, on the mid line, on the opposite side of the road. Cars got out of our way. We hit speeds of 120 in town. I filmed part of the ‘race’ through the wind shield. For the team, this was routine, for me it was really stimulating….!

When we arrived, the motorcycle, the BLS and an ACLS ambulance were already there. The woman, 80 years of age had collapsed on the sidewalk, She had time to call herself an ambulance with her emergency button. We were 12 P-Ms to take care of the patient. We gave her cardiac massage, pumped , intubated, started an IV and gave her Adrenalin several times. We got her back to life, but she re-coded in the ambulance and expired in the hospital. It was a good team effort but at her age, she didn’t have a chance. I was very impressed as usual by the professionalism and the team work. Although we were 12 present, 1 person took charge and everyone else followed instructions. It is amazing how they work together. They are quiet, very fast and very effective. There is no panic. Everyone knows and does their job in the most efficient manner. We could learn a lot from their way of working and handling an emergency. A crowd had gathered on the street to watch us but this in no way distracted the P-Ms

The last call of the evening was a semi emergency. We were called to an apartment where an old, over weight 75 year old man was having trouble breathing. The couple lived in what appeared to be a moderately price building with their son. I was not prepared for what I was about to witness. The entrance to the building was nicely tiled. The elevator was clean. We opened the door to the apartment and the state or the apartment was horrible.

The people were hoarders. There was 3 feet of refuse piled on the floor in the kitchen, living room, dining room, halls and bedrooms. There were bags of clothes, food, broken furniture, lamps, everything that you can and accumulate in 20 years. The patient was sitting on a sofa. I don’t know how he got there. We had to move stuff aside to clear a 1 foot wide path to get to him. 4 of us lifted him onto a wooden chair that we dragged through the stuff to get him out side the apartment and onto a stretcher and into the ambulance.

The man was obese, didn’t speak much, was dressed in sweat pants and a sweat shirt. He had his whole medical file neatly typed out from a previous hospital visit. What was amazing was, in spite of the surroundings, he was clean shaven and relatively clean. He was not dirty in his appearance and did not smell bad, although for protection we all wore masks.

The 2 P-Ms on my team were young girls in their early 20s. 1 was a recent grad, the other was still doing her studies and wanted to finish the army and go into medical school. I had never seen anything like what I had just witnessed. They had! Once again I was amazed by their professionalism. They were not judgemental at all. The patient was a human being in distress. They treated him in a kind, dignified and respectful manner. We did all the usual, cardiogram, oxymeter, blood glucose etc. We made him comfortable. They spoke quietly to him to reassure him. They are very well trained for all types of circumstances. This is their job and they know how to react in an efficient manner.

The whole country functions this way, quiet, no fuss, seemingly easy going but extremely effective. They of course have constant stimulation from their neighbours. I just learned that Israel attacked Iran last night. I think that there will be some excitement here today. I am not worried. We are ready for them.

Love,

Brian