IamA Paramedic with Magen David Adom, Israel’s ambulance, blood-services, and disaster-relief organization. I just returned from our mission in Nepal treating injured civilians and Israelis. AMA!

During that mission we treated many Nepalese and Israelis who were injured in the massive earthquake.

How big an Israeli population is living in/regularly visiting Nepal?

Nepal is one of the countries where a lot of Israelis travele , mostly between the ages of 20-25 ("the big trip after the army") It is very common to find Israelis there, most are travelers, not a lot of Israelis live in the area. When we got there we saw at least 300 Israeli in the Israeli embassy in Chabad and hospitals in the region

Which countries' delegations did the most for the Nepalese, from what you could see?

Israel was the first to sent a medical delegation and the largest military Hospital that treated hundreds of wounded. There also delegation from India, ICRC from all over the world (Switzerland, Norway, for example) While I was there Israel was the most significant one

I was sent back to Israel on a plane with 10 infants. Some of them were less than a week old and needed medical attention

Now what for these children? Are they orphans found in the disaster Wreckage? Either way there sounds like a whole lot of logistics involved in evacuating young children that far and potentially bringing them back or bringing families to them. Can you elaborate?

Most babies were from surrogacy process, the parents of most of them were there (at least one parent). But each family had 3 or 4 babies, lots of babies who need this medical test, feed them,change diapers and take care of them. One of my jobs going back to Israel with them was to make sure that all the babies were ok at the flight back , a pediatrician and several paramedics and I checked to be sure everyone is okay. If needed something (for example, to give them oxygen) we had the equipment and they were treated. Two of the babies were premature and receive constant monitoring of oxygen during flight.

What kind of training do you have?

There are several ways to become a paramedic in Israel

1. through the army - a intensive course of one year through the IDF with the Magen David Adom . The course includes theoretical and practical parts, experience in the ambulance and hospitals over the year
2. Course of Magen David Adom in Israel - 2 to 3 years again theoretical and practical training
3. BA in emergency medicine

I did military training, which also includes a wide range of training in stressfall situations and trauma casualties care

What made you think to become a paramedic?

How does a day go when you're a paramedic?

I was a volunteer in Magen David Adom as a medic since the age of 15, When I joined the army I asked for paramedics course, my dream is to practice medicine in the future and this area interests me from a young age

On a normal day I am doing a shift of 8-16 hours in an ambulance, outbound many cases, some wounded, some patients. There are days when I was teaching a course for paramedics to prepare the next generation

Do you prefer your usual work or relief work?

Do you feel different helping in Nepal when compared with helping in Israel?

I worked in Israel for several years and I got to help hundreds of people during this period. But our help in Nepal, mainly because we arrived 24 hours after the earthquake to the many injured who needed help, was highly significant. It feels great to be able to help the country in need , therefore Nepal was a meaningful experience.

Where is it worse? Your usual workarea or Nepal?

Nepal injury scale is much bigger than what I'm used to, We usually deal with one victim at a time, but Nepal had a lot of injuries at the same time. However even handle incidents of terrorism or big car accidents is not easy. Also there is a lack of resources in Nepal, lack of anesthesia medicines orthopedic equipment, making it difficult situation. So my answer is probably interested in Nepal

Hey I work with MDA too! I was a volunteer medic working out of yerucham, dimona, and be'er sheva. I'm hoping to pursue a career in emergency medicine back in the US and I was wondering if you had any advice to give to a future medical student.

Also, I don't know much about the situation in Nepal, can you give me some insight to what's going on from a paramedics perspective?

Hey lot of luck in future medical studies MDA is very helpful for clinical experience and patient care

About Nepal, I'm not there since last week so I can not give an updated picture. I can say that at the time we were there they still needed help, a lot of people slept in the streets because of broken homes or from the fear of another earthquake. Was a serious problem in obtaining water and hospitals did not have enough equipment Magen David Adom brought equipment which was donated to the hospital

Hey lot of luck in future medical studies MDA is very helpful for clinical experience and patient care

About Nepal, I'm not there since last week so I can not give an updated picture. I can say that at the time we were there they still needed help, a lot of people slept in the streets because of broken homes or from the fear of another earthquake. Was a serious problem in obtaining water and hospitals did not have enough equipment Magen David Adom brought equipment which was donated to the hospital

After entering something as devastating as an earthquake zone in Nepal, with the sheer loss of lives, damaged infrastructure, disorganisation and general chaos of a natural disaster, how do you assimilate back into ordinary life back home? Are you ok with it, do you learn how to deal with the psychological impact?

It's not easy to return to a normal life after such scenes.   Magen David Adom medical teams devices difficult scenes but it's really not easy to get back to normal. One thing that helps greatly in knowing you've helped and continues to help even from Israel all that you can.

Still at difficult days my secret is to run, I go for runs to clear my head. :)

Last time I checked, Magen David Edom was not certified or approved by the International Red Cross, while the Red Crescent is. My question is two-fold, first, is this still true? Second, how does that effect the MDE's daily work and how do you feel about that?

Todah Rabbah!

Magen David Adom is part of the red cross since 2006 , For the day to day work MDA is a humanitarian organization and treat everybody regardless of religion, race or sex even before being a part of the Red Cross. Today we stand in international standards as part of the Red Cross.

Thankyou for your time...

One day I hope to see a reddit AMA that gives an insight into Israeli society without degenerating into an argument about who is at fault over territorial disputes.

Hopefully you are still taking questions... I have previously worked in strategic lift operations and it always amazes me how quickly Israeli disaster response can mobilize. Even when the disaster zone is not one that could be considered regional, you always seem to be one of the first on the ground - even when my own country is still loading planes.

How does MDA deploy so far, so quickly?

Magen David Adom practiced working fast in such situations, apart from the experience we have we practice it throughout the year to always being ready for any situation. For example, as soon as the decision was made for the delegation;   The team including myself began to organize to the flight. While the logistical teams took care medical equipment and other teams coordinated their flight (aircraft, arrival arrangements) such distribution which is known in advance, save a lot of time.

What comes first to you guys? Treating Massive bleeds (MARCHH) or Airways/respiration? I've always wanted to know how the transition form combat medic to paramedic affects you guys and how your training should be adapted.

hi! we treat massive bleeds before airways , but only life threatening bleeds, the rest of bleeds will be treated after the airway and respiration. My training was as a paramaic. The MDA is responsible of all paramedics training, including the IDF paramedics. So actually we do not need a different training after the army.

Thank you for your service!!!

What is the worst situation you have personally seen that was a result of Arab terrorism in Israel?

Also do many people drop out of the school because they can't handle the gore?

hat was a result of Arab terrorism

hi I treated the wounded in a bus bombing in Tel Aviv, Including a number of different injured, including a pregnant woman may have lost her fetus.

Regarding the retirement of the schools, as far as I know there is not a higher percent of drop outs

'thank you for your service' is such an overused statement. in your daily life you dont care who served and who didnt.

adding to that every jew has to serve in the IDF

Edit: what the fuck guys. I did not say anything about me taking side in the conflict. its bad for everyone. I meant the tern is overused. not that it was bad to help people in need.

Edit 2: okay now im getting downvoted because I already have downvotes. awesome. you guys are the best.

I work in MDA a hmanitarian organization. We work both Jews and Arabs, some of my best friends are Arabs. I do not care if a person served in the military or not, but in the reality of Israel most of the people serving in the army.

Did you see that ufo thing that was over Israel a few years ago?

Did you see that ufo thing that was over Israel a few years ago

Could you please elaborate?