Due to the threat of imminent escalation of violence from Hezbollah, Magen David Adom conducted a multi-system exercise aimed at preparing for blackout scenarios and for war in the northern Israel.
Aimed at providing medical emergency response to save lives during multi-casualty situations, the exercise, which lasted three days, simulated mass-casualty and blackout incidents. It required MDA teams to treat people injured in simulated security incidents and utilizing satellite communication tools.
One scenario involved a simulated rocket strike on a building in a northern kibbutz. MDA teams arrived at the scene with extensive resources including ambulances, Mobile Intensive Care Units, Medicycles, a Unimog all-terrain vehicle with off-road capabilities, and an intensive care bus. The first responders to the simulated training were the local emergency team from Kibbutz Afek who were trained via a collaboration between MDA, National Home Front Command, and the Ministry of Health. After the scene was “cleared” by police bomb disposal experts, MDA and Israel’s The National Fire & Rescue Authority practiced how they would provide medical care for 50 injured people.
MDA teams also practiced a scenario in which there were electricity outages. MDA teams on the ground and at MDA’s 101 emergency dispatch center managed responses at various locations in coordination with the police, IDF, Home Front Command, Fire and Rescue, local emergency teams, and municipal authorities.
“MDA teams have completed a very successful exercise,” remarked Felix Lotan, MDA’s head of emergency preparedness. “MDA teams are now better prepared to provide medical response to escalated security incidents, including dealing with blackout scenarios and using satellite tools. The insights gained from this exercise will be incorporated into the organizational work plan to enhance our readiness.”
“This exercise provided MDA personnel with real tools for handling and responding to scenarios in real-time,” stated MDA director-general Eli Bin, who attended the exercise and reviewed the teams’ readiness. “MDA used special tools in the absence of infrastructure and computerized resources. MDA is especially focused these days on preparing for any potential scenario to ensure the medical security of Israel’s citizens.”
In addition to satellite equipment, MDA has purchased generators for its stations throughout the country, so that computers at the dispatch centers can continue to track the needs on the ground in case of electrical outages. MDA is also working with Israel’s Ministry of Health to catalogue all patients who rely on ventilator support. In the event of a power outage, they will be transported to shelters with sufficient generator capacity to power ventilators.
