MDA volunteers demoed equipment for children evacuated from Kibbutz Reim.
After enduring the harrowing events of October 7 and being evacuated to Tel Aviv from their homes in Kibbutz Reim near Gaza, a group of 35 children had the chance to experience life as Magen David Adom volunteers for a day.
Sporting mini yellow paramedic vests and command hats, the children, ages 5-11, toured an ambulance and tested out medical equipment.
The initiative was MDA volunteer EMT Ofer Astlin’s idea. Astlin is a native of Kibbutz Reim and is now a volunteer at the MDA station in Ramat Gan. She and her colleagues told the children about volunteering with MDA and demonstrated for them the medical devices they use on the job like defibrillators and blood pressure monitors. At the end of the day, the children received MDA swag such as a keychain, a pen, and coloring books.
The day, which was planned to delight these children who have suffered so much, brought smiles to everyone: “The children were so excited to see what an ambulance is like and check out the medical equipment inside,” said MDA volunteer EMT Avichai Tauri. “We answered their questions about our work and ended the day smiling just as much as the children.”
