Experience Israel in an entirely different way and save lives while doing it. The Magen David Adom Ambulance Volunteer Program gives you the opportunity to spend two exciting and satisfying months gaining hands on first-aid and emergency care experience in Israel. Magen David Adom (the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross) provides emergency first aid services throughout Israel and works with its volunteers to provide effective initial treatment. The MDA Volunteer Program, run in conjunction with the Jewish Agency for Israel invites you to join them and work side by side with Israeli volunteers and professional staff. No previous medical experience is required, training is included.
The Program
Beginning with an intense nine day / 60-hour first-aid training course in English and basic Hebrew, the Program training course covers material ranging from bandaging a simple wound to CPR and mass casualty incidents. Following the successful completion of the course, participants are placed in MDA stations throughout Israel where they work in ambulances together with Israeli volunteers and staff. The Program runs for a period of six to eight weeks including the training course.
Accommodations
Accommodations are provided in Jewish Agency Absorption Centers throughout Israel. The accommodations are apartment style (youth hostel) dorms, but do not include meals and transportation. Participants must bring with them adequate funds to cover food, transportation and entertainment while on the program. During summer months, participants may also be housed in alternate housing such as dormitories, hostels and hotels for an additional fee.
Acceptance Criteria
Participants must be between the ages 18-25 in good physical and mental health. Basic conversational Hebrew is required.
General
During the volunteer period you will have the opportunity to experience Israel in a very real sense. While riding an ambulance throughout the city where you are placed, you'll have the chance to meet the Israeli population with its wide diversity of people, its many colors, religions and beliefs. You will be working with Israelis in an Israeli environment, perfecting your Hebrew and making wonderful new friends. All this while learning an invaluable skill and most importantly, caring for people and saving lives.
Prior Medical Experience
Applicants who have prior emergency care or medical experience are welcome to join the Program, but will have to participate in the training course. MDA regulations require that all participants undergo the training course, regardless of prior experience, due to significant differences between MDA emergency care procedures and those of other Ambulance Corps.
| The program is named for Yochai Porat Z”l , the program coordinator who was killed on March 3, 2002, while serving in reserve duty in the IDF. Yochai began volunteering in MDA at age 15. He served as a combat medic in the army, including running a military infirmary in Lebanon. After the army he continued to volunteer and became a senior medic and ambulance driver. In 2001 he began to coordinate the program for overseas volunteers. He was killed by a Palestinian sniper while trying to give medical care to a fellow soldier. He was 26 years old at the time of his death. |