Meeting in Akko

All of us volunteers traveled to Akko this morning to meet with our volunteer coordinator. We discussed who we would make our schedule, us volunteers would work out who will go to Akko and who will go to Karmiel. We can also pickup night shifts if we would like, we just need to call to make sure there is an open spot.

After our initial discussion we went out to get a tour of an Atan, mobile intensive care unit with a paramedic and medic on it, and a Lavan, a regular ambulance with a medic on it. We found out we will be able to volunteer on both during our time here.

I have the next few days off until we all meet at the Karmiel station on Sunday. So my next post will be after the shift on Sunday.

Shabbat shalom.

Traveling Up North

(Public square near my accommodation)

The last morning together was hectic as people got up, some ate breakfast, all packed, cleaned their rooms and checked out. Then there was the organization of what bus you will be taking, group pictures, class pictures and random other pictures. Some goodbyes, some we'll see you later when we visit and finally everyone on their bus to their accommodations.

Israel is a relatively skinning country and as we left Jerusalem for the north we would be traveling up and then along the coast.

We stopped to drop off other volunteers at their lodging along the way, Karmiel is the last stop.

Israel is a striking country as you travel through it, made up of towns and cities clustered together and then small farms and industrial areas here and there. I was surprised to hear people talking about the water and I looked over and I see the Mediterranean Sea and sand beaches. I'll be about 25 minute bus ride from the ocean but my goal is to actually get in the Mediterranean Sea this trip to Israel.

We arrived at our accommodations and can we say deluxe! The rooms had water and snacks set out and soap and other stuff we would need to start out. The lady who was in charge gave us a tour and took us outside the center to show us where places are that we might need. After a falafel and grocery shopping run it was time to do laundry. Tomorrow it will be time to head to the station in the morning to meet our volunteer coordinator.

Last Days of Training

Spoiler alert: I passed my practical and written exams.

The last couple of days of training were devoted to learning a few more topics including animal bites and then lots of practice for the practical exam. We had been working so hard all day that delirium set in by the evening but many people continued to practice.

The next day was testing day and we had to show our skills in CPR, trauma assessment and treatment and taking vital signs. We also had a written exam with content questions and Hebrew vocabulary.

After everything was said and done we sat around nervous about how we had done. Some people sat second guessing what they had did and there was speculation all around about whether they had passed or not. By the end of everything people passed, received their uniform shirts and many went out to celebrate.

I celebrating by reading a little and then going to bed.

Training Day #6

It all started as a healthy competition between groups of responders in my class, class 2, and by the end of it, it was a competition between classes for who would reign supreme.

The group was picked and they needed another person so I joined them. We were competing to back-board a trauma patient and apply a number of different bandages as well. A couple of groups had been before us but when we had competed we had the top time of like 2:46 (or something close to that, you know how legends are made, the facts don't always stay solid). The next time our group was timed we clocked in at 2:06. By this point the stirrings of class competition were in the air. Their was espionage on each side and the excitement continued to build. Our group did another trial, this time without the bandaging practice, just straight back-boarding. Our time was 1:09. We felt confident but the other classes were still practicing. We did a final trial before the competition and got a slightly higher time of like 1:36.

The stage was set for class competition as all the classes made their way outside with their equipment. Final instructions were given and judges were assigned for each group. The countdown, shalosh, stein, achat and the first of four groups were off. Each group had to back-board their patient, get it checked by the judge and reorganize the equipment before the next group would be allowed to start. Our group was the anchor group because we had been posting the best times but by the time it was our turn, we had lost track of what number the other classes were on, so we didn't know if they were about to finish or if we were ahead of them. But it didn't matter, we knew our jobs and we set to work. When we had finished and stood up we knew our class was the winner! Go class 2!

There was not much time to celebrate as our group had to prepare for the head to head competition, the best groups from each class were to battle it out to see who was the fastest. This time the judges would be more strict and so we knew we had to be fast but also careful. Slow is fast! Slow is fast! After checking our equipment and organizing it just the way we wanted it the competition started. I was so focused on my tasks that I hardly knew what everyone else was doing. We worked together like a fine oiled machine. With a few things to correct along the way we finished and again we realize we had taken the second W for class 2 and that deserved a picture being taken.

But the fun wasn't done, the instructors wanted a chance to show their stuff so with all the students crowding around and the program coordinator acting the part of the patient, the instructors went to back-board with the critique of all the students as their judges. At the end the instructors were eight seconds behind our winning class group.

Location:Jerusalem

Training Days 4 & 5

The past two days have been devoted to working on how to respond to a trauma event. We went over pre hospital trauma protocol and treatment of trauma injuries with many pictures and videos to drive home what it looks like and really in general what not to do if you don't want to be a trauma victim.

This is two of the class together for a back boarding demonstration:







We have had most of the afternoon off and are preparing for Shabbat to start in about an hour. Shabbat shalom from Israel!

My מדריך (Instructor)

This is my main instructor, Avishui but everyone calls him by his last name which is Kapach. He has been working with MDA (Magen David Adom) for 16 years and is a self-proclaimed ADHD. This is why he has the pink ball, in order to entertain himself and it also doubles as a way to call on people to answer questions. With so much experience he is able to give us enrichment information and stories for almost ever condition which you would find.

Aaron Frank's Blog

Another volunteer has a blog, check it out:

Aaron Frank's Blog

Training Day #3

Today I went around with a blood pressure cuff and took people's blood pressure (lachatz dam). I knew this was going to be one of the primary things I would be able to do on the ambulance and so I wanted the pratice. I am sure many friends remember when I was taking the first responders class at the community college that I did a similar thing when I was learning to take blood pressure.

I also was involved in this practice scenario in which three of us arrived on scene to find a baby and mom unconscious and dad in an altered state of consciousness. The three of us who were practicing had to figure out what to do and handle the situation. It was a tough call but we did pretty well. We came to find out that they had poison in their food.

Training Days 1 & 2

Imagine a group of over 80 people coming from many different places all to do the same thing, work on an ambulance for the summer. You hear the different accents and the different stores, the chaos of a group of people getting to know each other and trying to figure out how the training program works. What we have found out so far is that there is breakfast, class time, lunch, class time, dinner and then speakers/free time. Well that is what we have learned so far and it is only day 2 so you never know what the other days will entill. :)

We have covered CPR, respiratory distress, stroke, vital signs and some practice. Here are a few words you might need to know if you encounter an emergency situation next time you are in Israel (translitation from Hebrew):

Hachey'ah - CPR
Chamtzan - Oxygen
Titkasher le'MDA - Call MDA (the ambulance company I'm volunteering for)
Ma karah lecha - What happened to you?
Lana'ki - To vomit

Oh and calling 911 will not help you' in Israel, there are three diffrent numbers depending on what you need 100 for police, 101 for MDA and 102 for fire.

Three more days until the midterm.

Safe in Israel

I'm safe in Israel. I've been hanging out in Jerusalem and will start my training on Monday. More updates then, if I have Internet that is. :)

Hughes is in Israel

Hello friends or should I say shalom chaverim!

I will be spending the summer doing the MDA Overseas Volunteer program (http://www.israelexperience.org.il/mda) in Israel. This is a volunteer program in which I will be working on an amblance in Israel.

For a better idea of what I will be doing, I have enjoyed these blogs of former volunteers:

Sharon Malecki's Blog
http://www.magendavidadom.org.au/sharon_vol.htm

My Life as a מד''א Chulnikit
http://mdachulnikit.blogspot.com/

I will be staying in an absorption center in Karmiel in northern Israel.