Israel 7,
July 10, 2026,
Hi Everyone,
I had an early shift today with 3 paramedics, 1 of whom I worked with last year. He is a physician who has completed his army service and is currently doing a rotating internship. He is considering doing ether paediatrics or paediatric surgery. I have him some advice. If he is intellectual he should do a medical speciality such as paediatrics. If he is good with his hands, he should do paediatric surgery. He will do a rotation at Schneider Paediatric Hospital and then make his decision. Today he gave me a brief tour of the hospital which has 1500 beds. There must be an endless supply of beds here as I have never seen anyone wait for more than 5 minutes in the ER and they appear to do a triage and hospitalize the patient very quickly.
The 1st patient was an elderly male, 76 years old. He was extremely skinny, lying in bed, on chronic oxygen therapy. On arrival in the apartment, I perceived a definite smell of cigarette smoke. We examined the patient who had shallow rapid breathing and many crepitations in his lungs. His EKG and BP were relatively normal. We gave him a treatment with ventolin inhalation and IV paracetamol and his condition improved. We then transferred him to the hospital.
The 2nd was a 77 year old female who had tripped on a small rug in front of her bed. She was lying on the floor with a deformed hip and her foot turned outward indicating a fractured hip. There was very little room to manoeuvre between her and the wall. We took a sheet off her bed and skillfully slid it under her. We collapsed the stretcher to a position 6 inches off the floor. We then lifted her onto the stretcher holding onto the sheet.
The 3rd patient was an elderly female of unspecified age. She was lying on the floor, obviously dead. We took an EKG which was flat lined. These people come from very tough stock. The husband was present, gave us a brief history, showing no emotion at all. He then took a picture of his deceased wife murmuring ‘this will be the last picture on my beautiful wife.’ In these cases we do not bring the patient to the hospital. The apartment was the most beautiful apartment that I have seen in Tel Aviv. There were floor to ceiling window giving a wonder view of the city including the sea. The floor was made of her black granite.
We had a couple of other cases which were cancelled on route that I need not describe.
Tonight, I will be dining with Vicki and her son for Shabbat. I bought a nice bottle of Italian wine from a wine merchant who was originally from Lyon and had been living in Israel for 44 years. I presented myself as a Francais-Anglophone from Canada who had lived for several years in Reims. He told me that the situation for French Jews in France is terrible. They are attacked from the left and the right wing as well as by the Arabs. They dare not wear a Magen David in public for fear of being beaten up. The ‘centre’ does nothing to protect them. Many Jews from France have purchased property in Tel Aviv and Natanya. Many others are considering leaving. What is this world coming to? Why should Jews living outside of Israel be blamed for Middle Eastern politics. Can you imagine if someone in Canada punched a Quebecois in the face for what the French did to the Hurons 300 years ago!!
Love,
Brian
gobriantravel 