Early Tuesday, a barrage of Iranian missiles rained down on Israel, one of which hit an apartment building in the southern city of Be’er Sheva. Magen David Adom teams were on the scene, treating and evacuating to the hospital two moderately injured people, eight lightly injured, and three suffering from anxiety. Unfortunately, MDA medics had to pronounce four dead.
MDA medics established a treatment and triage point where they conducted medical checks on residents who were evacuated from the building.
“We saw thick smoke rising from the area of the strike, and as we approached, we witnessed heavy damage to several buildings,” reflected MDA senior EMT Shimrit Sela who treated the injured at the scene. “Outside one of the buildings, we saw a man lying unconscious. Unfortunately, after medical assessment, we had to pronounce him dead. When we entered the building to search further, we found another man and a woman unconscious, and sadly, we had to pronounce them dead at the scene as well.” MDA paramedic Dvir Ben Ze’ev, who also treated the injured added, “after extended searches by Home Front Command teams, a fourth unconscious victim was located, and his death was pronounced at the scene.”
In addition to the destruction in Be’er Sheva, MDA EMTs and paramedics also provided medical treatment to a 51-year-old man in serious condition in Nof HaGalil in the north of Israel. “We found the injured man lying down, semi-conscious, after hitting his head after falling on his way to the bomb shelter,” said MDA paramedic Yosef Khudayantov. “We provided lifesaving medical treatment, including stopping bleeding and bandaging his wounds, before transporting him to Rambam hospital.”
Since the beginning of Operation Rising Lion, MDA teams have treated 1,347 people including 28 fatalities, 17 seriously injured, 29 in moderate condition, 872 mildly injured, and 401 people suffering from anxiety. MDA EMTs and paramedics remain on high alert, ready to provide immediate medical response when needed.
“With the outbreak of Operation Rising Lion, MDA reached peak preparedness, with full staffing of thousands of emergency vehicles across the country. Our EMTs and paramedics were dispatched to multiple scenes and have acted with determination, professionalism, dedication, and speed to provide lifesaving medical assistance to more than 1,300 people across all levels of injury, in full coordination with the Home Front Command, the Israel Police, Fire and Rescue, and local authorities,” remarked Eli Bin, MDA director-general.
“We will continue to stand on the front lines and give our all for the safety and health of Israel’s citizens.”
