Ready for ‘worst-case scenario’
Maisel was overwhelmed by the number of United Hatzalah paramedics who selflessly entered areas where Hamas was still at large.
Dov Maisel was preparing to celebrate his son’s bar mitzvah on the Shabbat of October 7, when disaster struck at 6.29am. The director of operations at volunteer emergency response organisation United Hatzalah Israel soon understood Israel was facing a brutal onslaught unique in character and scale.
“Our instant response was from our core operation, which was basically volunteers from the communities themselves … but 10-15 minutes in, this disaster was unfolding as something much, much larger and severe.”
While not requiring volunteers to enter a “hot zone” with active shooting, Maisel was overwhelmed by the number of United Hatzalah paramedics who selflessly entered areas where Hamas was still at large.
In a sense, it was the catastrophe Maisel had been preparing for since his youth. He was nine years old when he witnessed a schoolmate fatally struck by a bus. “I made a decision back then, that when I grow up, I’m going to do something so that I won’t be helpless like this.”
At 14, he began volunteering with Magen David Adom. Studying medicine, he joined United Hatzalah which began in 2006, later becoming part of its senior management.
The IDF combat paramedic has served in four wars.
Speaking to The AJN from Israel before a visit to Australia for the launch of Australian Friends of United Hatzalah Israel, Maisel described his organisation in more normal times – a corps of more than 7000 volunteers around Israel responding to some 2000 calls a day.
With the chance of surviving a life-threatening emergency reducing 10 per cent with each minute of waiting, every second counts. Using GPS tracking and an advanced fleet of emergency vehicles, United Hatzalah states a typical wait period of 90 seconds between receiving a call and the arrival of first responders.
But since October 7, it has expanded from dealing with emergencies such as cardiac arrests and car crashes to becoming Israel’s first line of survival from rockets and terrorism. It has doubled its fleet of ambulances, ambu-cycles and maritime craft, and is enhancing training.
United Hatzalah is gearing up in Israel’s north. “I’m creating a more resilient community, knowing that when they’re on their own, which is what happened here on October 7, they’ll be better prepared,” said Maisel. “The worst-case scenario is where cities, towns or villages are cut off from the grid for anywhere up to 72 hours.”
Maisel doesn’t mince words. “This is Israel’s independence war all over again.” But October 7 “showed the real face of Israelis – willing to leave their homes and risk their lives under fire”.
comments