First aid

1. Keep an eye out for surrounding threats to you, to others and to the casualty
2. First of all, remove the casualty from a place where he and yourself are in danger
3. As far as possible, aid the casualty on the spot
4. Open the casualty’s airway (by raising his lower jaw and evacuating secretions from mouth), ensure sufficient breathing
5. Stop any bleeding immediately
6. If possible, ask the casualty how he was injured
7. Examine the casualty thoroughly
8. Encourage the casualty
9. Act confidently and competently.

First aid (individual) bandage, sterile gauze pad, adhesive bandage, adhesive tape 1.25 or 2.5 cm. wide, bandage rolls, cotton bandage 4, 6, 8 or 10 cm. wide, cloth triangle, Betadine antiseptic, scissors, blanket.

When approaching a bleeding casualty, your first action, following opening of airway and ensuring breathing, will be to apply pressure to the bleeding wound. External bleeding can be stopped by direct pressure on the spot. This will be done by hand pressure – do not be afraid to press down hard. This is an immediate and essential action intended to stop the bleeding and prevent rapid deterioration of the casualty’s condition. Hand pressure can be applied while riding in a vehicle, transporting the casualty on a stretcher and almost in any other situation. Do not let go!!!
If possible, apply a pressure bandage. Using the bandage ties, increase the pressure on the bleeding spot. If the bleeding does not stop, apply additional hand pressure or add another bandage, until it stops. A tourniquet should be applied only in case of limb amputation and tightened as much as possible.

Burns can be caused by fire, heat or, rarely, extreme cold. There are 3 degrees of burns:

• 1st degree – damage to the external layer of skin only; the skin is red and puffy
• 2nd degree – superficial or deep damage to the external and internal skin layers; the surface of the skin rises in blisters
• 3rd degree – all skin layers are affected; skin and subcutaneous tissue are scorched.

Treatment of burns:

1. Remove the casualty from the dangerous spot. Wrap the casualty in a blanket or roll him on the ground to extinguish the fire and remove his clothing.
2. Immediately afterwards check the most important parameter – whether the casualty’s airway is open. Fire and smoke cause the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract to swell, causing the airway to become blocked quickly. If the casualty is evacuated from a fire and smoke, soot and ash are apparent on his tongue and his hair and face are singed – the air he inhales must be enriched with oxygen in maximum concentrations.
3. Cool the burns with water. Do not burst or open blisters! (to avoid infection).
4. Cover the burns with a wet sterile bandage. Continue wetting the bandage and evacuate the casualty for medical treatment.

Chemical burns

Chemical burns may be as severe as thermal burns. Ingestion of certain chemicals, such as boric acid, causes internal burns. Such chemical substances cause blistering, edema and scarring. If they affect the respiratory tract, there is a threat of suffocation.

Treatment of chemical burns:

Remove the casualty’s clothing and wash the burn with large amount of water. If the casualty ingested liquid chemicals, wash out his mouth thoroughly and cause the casualty to spit out the washing liquid.

Signs of fracture are: limited mobility of the limb, swelling, subcutaneous bleeding (bruise).
Treatment: immobilize the limb by attaching it to the body or a healthy limb and tying down (using cloth triangle, belt etc.)
In case of neck and spine trauma, do not move the casualty and call an ambulance.

Dial 101 for Magen David Adom from any phone, including cellular, and provide the following information:

• the number of the telephone you are calling from
• location of the event: city, neighborhood, street name, house number, floor and name on the front door
• description of the casualty’ medical problem
• age of the casualty
• presence of environmental threats (fire, demolition, torn and exposed electrical wiring).

Answer the EMT dispatcher’s questions fully in order to assist proper treatment.
During rocket attacks, Magen David Adom dispatch centers will respond to urgent calls only.

• for casualty information, call hospital information centers.
• do not call Magen David Adom for information, behavior guidelines or names of casualties involved in the incident.
• do not approach the scene of the incident to allow the medical teams to access the casualties and to provide them with the safest and most professional care. Vehicle operators should clear the routes to the scene of the incident and the hospitals.
  

The Magen David Adom Blood Services are responsible for collection, processing, distribution and storage of blood and blood products for the entire Israeli civil and military health system, both in peacetime and in an emergency. Information on blood donations is routinely published in the media, and therefore, residents are not encouraged to come to the blood banks and donation centers unnecessarily.

Who can donate blood?

Any healthy person from 16 to 65 years of age, with body weight of 50 kg. and above and meeting several additional requirements, can donate blood.
17-18 year olds can donate blood with parental consent. Blood can be donated once every 3 month with no risk to the donor’s health. Any country that strives to provide its residents with quality medical care, 50,000 units of blood are needed annually for every million residents. This means that 5% of the population must donate blood routinely, once a year. Israel, with its 6 million residents, needs at least 300,000 units of blood every year in peacetime. During an emergency, the need increases and a larger number of donors is required.

Personal blood insurance – every donor receives blood insurance for himself and his immediate family, valid for a year. The insurance becomes valid 2 months from the day of the donation.

To donate blood and save lives – call 1-800-400-101