Hatzalah
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Hatzalah (
History
The original Hatzalah EMS was founded in
Hatzalah organizations now function in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Panama,[8] Russia,[9] South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom,[10] Ukraine, and in 10 U.S. states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Hatzalah branches are currently being organized in other states as well.
In Israel, there are two Hatzalah organizations operating on the national level: United Hatzalah (Hebrew: איחוד הצלה), and Tzevet Hatzalah (Hebrew: צוות הצלה). While United Hatzalah is inarguably the larger of the two organizations, in the past their volunteers were limited to direct response on-scene care, versus Tzevet Hatzalah volunteers, which are additionally licensed and authorized to provide emergency transport utilizing Magen David Adom ambulances. Currently United Hatzalah - has a wide deployment of active ambulances and several Mobiles Intensive Care Units (always staffed by a specialist doctor and a paramedic) distributed in the greatest cities of Israel, which allows them to transport sick and injured to the nearest suitable medical center, for free.
Operations
Hatzalah uses a
Each directly dispatched Hatzolah volunteer has a full medical technician "jump kit" in their car, with oxygen, trauma, and appropriate pharmaceutical supplies. Paramedic (EMT-P) members carry more extensive equipment and supplies, including
In some areas there may be periods where coverage is not strong enough, for example on a summer weekend. When this happens, coordinators may assign an on-call rotation. The rotation may still respond from their houses, or they may stay at the garage through their shift. In such periods, Hatzalah functions closer to a typical EMS crew setup, though the dispatchers may still seek non-on-call members to respond, and there will still often be a non-ambulance responder as first dispatched, even if that responder starts from the base.[12]
In Israel, United Hatzalah relies upon mobile phone technologies which include an SOS app and a special emergency phone number, 1221, with messages to news organizations distributed by WhatsApp.[13]
Response times
Hatzalah's model provides for speedy first responder response times. Each Hatzalah neighborhood's response time varies. For example, in Borough Park, Brooklyn, daytime response in life-threatening emergency are between 1–2 minutes, and nighttime response times are 5–6 minutes.[14] In the Beverly-La Brea neighborhood of Los Angeles, response times average at sixty-to-ninety seconds.[15] In Israel, the response time is under 3 minutes.[16]
Organization
Hatzalah is not a single organization. Each chapter operates autonomously, or, in some cases, with varying levels of affiliation with neighboring Hatzalah chapters and under a central association.[2][17]
In New York City's Hatzalah, there is a very simple operational hierarchy. Usually, there are two or three members who are "coordinators",[18] managing all operational aspects of the chapter.
As Orthodox Jews, many volunteers see each other daily during
The coordinators are responsible for recruitment, interaction with municipal agency operations (police, fire, and EMS), first-line discipline, and day-to-day operations. The coordinators often are responsible, directly or via delegation, for arranging maintenance crews, who are often called service members or service units, and for purchasing supplies, ambulances, and other equipment. There is also an administrative function, often separate from the coordinator function. The chief administrator is often called a director or executive director, and this is sometimes a paid position. All other positions in Hatzalah, including coordinators, are held by unpaid volunteers.
Most of the New York State branches have some centralized administration and dispatch functions, known as "Central Hatzalah", or, simply, "Central". The neighborhood organizations under Central are nevertheless independent. Most Hatzalah organizations pattern themselves after the Williamsburg and Central models (see operational descriptions below).
Formally, the New York City-area "Central Hatzalah" is called Chevra Hatzalah of New York. It combines dispatch and some other functions for over a dozen neighborhood organizations, including
Within Israel, the largest local organization is Magen David Adom.[citation needed]
Outside of New York and Israel, there are many smaller Hatzalah organizations. Each of these operates as a self-contained unit as members of a single association, but with no centralized coordination. However, where there are other Hatzalahs nearby, there is often a great deal of co-operation.
In Baltimore, Hatzalah's response area straddles two jurisdictions; Baltimore City Fire Department and Baltimore County Fire Department. Members in Baltimore often work side by side with crews from both services.
Legal status
In the United Kingdom, Hatzalah cannot use blue lights and sirens on their private vehicles.[19] though they are allowed to do so with ambulances.[citation needed]
In England, all Hatzalah chapters are CQC-registered, and they have a memorandum of understanding with local police forces with regards to use of blue lights and sirens, if certain criteria are met. Like any other emergency service, this does not mitigate if a collision occurs, and the service and its members can be prosecuted if deemed to be in the public interest.[citation needed]
In New York, Hatzalah usually use red and blue lights and sirens, like normal unmarked emergency vehicles. In New Jersey, Hatzalah usually use blue lights.
In Toronto, Hatzalah use green lights, having the same legal status as volunteer firefighters who also use green lights in their vehicles.[22]
In Australia, Hatzalah are trained as
Community involvement
Hatzalah organizations are often involved in other community activities, on top of their primary mission of emergency medical work. Many neighborhood chapters sponsor and participate in community events, both within the local Jewish community and in the broader community.
Many Hatzalahs worldwide
Specialization of Hatzalah EMS
A number of items that are either unique to Hatzalah, or that are relatively unusual for an EMS, include:
Direct response
Most EMS rely on crews with scheduled shifts operating from a known location. Due to its members and the communities they serve usually living in proximity, Hatzolah relies little on scheduled crews and stations, and, rather, has all service members on call 24/7 and members responding from wherever they are.[26]
Cultural sensitivities
Language, religion, and culture barriers create challenges for an emergency medical service.[
A Jew reluctant to violate
Mental health professionals
Every Hatzalah response crew will include at least one mental health professional (either a psychologist or psychiatrist), even if the emergency is not psychological in nature. The mental health professional functions to deal with potential psychological elements of the medial emergency including: calming the patient before and during transport to hospital, calming surrounding individuals on the scene, and dealing with actual psychological/psychiatric emergencies. Some Hatzalah chapters globally have their own mobile crisis units.
Cost
In areas where the EMS charges a fee, lower income clientele lacking health insurance may have a reluctance to call for an ambulance, unless the evidence of urgency is overwhelming. A volunteer service, with less overhead costs, tends to reduce that reluctance. Hatzolah will often handle "check-out" cases without charge. In this way, the true emergencies among those check-outs may be recognized and treated quickly, where the caller might have otherwise not sought treatment.[28]
Patient advocacy
In contrast with most other EMS agencies, many Hatzalah volunteers will remain at the hospital with the patient long after bringing them to the emergency department. This is especially true during serious cases, where volunteers will remain in order to help the patient and/or their families navigate the sometimes confusing series of events that occur during an emergency. Members will stay to explain, advocate, and sometimes help make arrangements to bring in other specialists or arrange transfer to higher care facilities.
Funding
Across the world, Hatzalah organisations make money by fundraising, either by fundraising dinners, or via public matching funds.
Interaction with other agencies
At times, there have been difficulties in dealing with outside organizations, including other first-responders.[29][30]
On February 20, 2013, the
In general, branches have excellent relations with state and local police and EMS.[citation needed]
An example of those operating in uneven,[32] or otherwise especially challenging situations[33] is Catskills Hatzolah, handling the swelling summer crowd.[34]
Israel's
Magen David Adom
United Hatzalah's relationship with Magen David Adom, however, is strained, and MDA has banned its members and volunteers from also volunteering in other rescue organizations, including Hatzalah.[35][36]
The Chevra NYC Central affiliates boast an excellent relationship with New York City and New York State agencies.[11]
Ezras Nashim
Hatzalah was the subject of controversy as articles in the
Notable time periods
September 11 attacks
Hatzalah members were among the first responders at the
Hatzalah was not dispatched by the city's 911 system, and a print-out of the 911 job from FDNY EMS does not list them as responding units.[47] However, audio recordings exist of Hatzalah's own dispatch, including members calling for help during the collapse of the first tower.[48] There are also well-known photos of destroyed Hatzalah ambulances[49][50] and the destroyed cars of Hatzalah members, in the aftermath of the attack.[51]
COVID-19 pandemic
Hatzalah chapters across the United States continued to service Jewish communities during the
Surfside building collapse
On June 24, 2021, (10 days after Governor Ron DeSantis signed the law that would allow Hatzalah in Florida to operate) at approximately 1:22 a.m. EDT, Champlain Towers South, a 12-story beachfront condominium in the Miami suburb of Surfside, Florida, United States, partially collapsed, causing the death of 98 people. Four people were rescued from the rubble, but one died of injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital. Eleven others were injured. Approximately thirty-five were rescued the same day from the un-collapsed portion of the building, which was demolished ten days later. Hatzalah of South Florida (HSF) was one of the first agencies on the scene providing triage care to survivors and families. HSF was on site for the duration of the rescue and recovery operation providing medical and rehab support to the IDF search and rescue team from the home front command as well as the out-of-town FEMA USAR teams.[57][58]
Chapters
Chapters of the organization exist in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, England, Israel, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, and in the United States. The chapters in each neighborhood or city operate independently, though in many cases, affiliations and levels of co-operation do exist between neighboring chapters.[2][59]
See also
- Shomrim (literally, "Watchers"), neighborhood security force
- Chaverim(literally, "Friends"), roadside assistance squads
- Chesed Shel Emes (literally, "Kindness of Truth"), body recovery and burial assistance
- Misaskim (literally, "People who Get Involved"), services for the care of the dead and the needs of mourners
- ZAKA or "Zihuy Korbanot Ason" (literally, "Disaster Victim Identification"), identification of victims of terrorist, accidents, or other disasters
References
- ^ "Central Hatzalah - Hatzalah Homepage". Hatzalah. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
- ^ a b c "Affiliates". hatzalah.org.
- ^ a b "Williamsburg Services". hatzolahw.org.
- ISBN 1-57819-734-1.
Attention all responders .. report of an MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident)
- ^ Cooper, E. C. (30 March 2012). "Chevrah Hatzalah" (PDF). Request to FCC regarding access to Blocked Telephone Numbers. fcc.gov. Retrieved 27 December 2014. "Hatzalah is the only volunteer ambulance service licensed to serve the entire City of New York, and it is believed to be the largest volunteer ambulance service in the nation."
- ^ The Edhi Foundation, with more than 500 ambulances, has held the Guinness record for world's "largest volunteer ambulance organization" since 1997.
- Glenday, Craig, ed. (2010). Guinness World Records 2010. Bantam Books. p. 237. ISBN 9780553593372.
largest volunteer ambulance.
- Glenday, Craig, ed. (2010). Guinness World Records 2010. Bantam Books. p. 237.
- ^ "Boro Park Hatzolah Volunteer Ambulance". bphatzolah.org. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ "Hatzalah Panama - Home". Hatzalah Panama. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ "Emergency Response Service for Jews in Russia's Capital". fjc.ru. 2004. Archived from the original on 26 February 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2006.
- ^ Ryan, Caroline (19 January 2003). "Jewish health service offers local care". BBC News. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- ^ a b c "Fastest Response Times in the World". Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ^ a b Handler, Mechel; Rabbi Dovid Weinberger. Madrich L'Chevra Hatzalah. Feldheim.
- ^ Wootliff, Raoul (17 February 2016). "After blogs and Facebook, military censor sets sights on WhatsApp". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ a b Bloomberg, M. (2005). "Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Announces Two Initiatives To Re-Develop Under-Utilized Land In The Culver El Section Of Borough Park, Brooklyn".
- ^ "Volunteer Lifesavers". Jewish Journal. 2001. Archived from the original on 28 December 2001.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". israelrescue.org. United Hatzalah. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ a b "Regional Branches". hatzalah.org.
- ^ "Regional Locations - Central Coordination". hatzalah.org.
- ^ "High Court rules Hatzola paramedics breached traffic laws". BBC News. 13 March 2014.
- ^ "NY Hatzolah Ambulances Can Now Use Blue Lights". Yeshiva World News. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ "DeSantis signs new law supporting faith-based volunteer ambulance services". local10.com. 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Highway Traffic Act". Ontario. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ "Hatzolah Australia Fire Safety" (PDF). hatzolah.org.au.
- ^ "Canadian Hatzoloh Chanukah Safety" (PDF). hatzoloh.ca.
- ^ "NYC Haztalah Purim Drinking Campaign" (PDF). hakhel.info.
- ^ A brief description of their Two-Tier system can be found at Chevra Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc.
- ^ Goldberg, Emma (19 April 2021). "They Told Her Women Couldn't Join the Ambulance Corps. So She Started Her Own". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Hatzolah LA When To Call Us". Hatzolah of Los Angeles.
- ^ "CrownHeights.info – Chabad News, Crown Heights News, Lubavitch News". Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ^ "BREAKING: Hatzolah Members Illegally Ticketed While Responding To Life-Threatening Emergency". Catskill Scoop. 8 August 2012. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "Petition of Chevrah Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corps Inc. for Waiver of Section 1601(b) of the Commission's Rules – Blocked Telephone Numbers" (PDF).
- ^ e. g., seasonal
- ^ Israel's United Hatzalah, see below
- ISBN 0-231123-612.
- Ynetnews. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ^ Bob, Yonah Jeremy (14 May 2019). "MDA, Hatzalah battle over the nation's health". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Fenton, Reuven (26 September 2011). "Jewish 'siren' ladies". New York Post. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ^ Fenton, Reuven (30 October 2019). "Hasidic all-women EMT group faces backlash from Hatzaloh members". New York Post. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "Jewish Female EMTs Plan to Join All-Male Ambulance Corps". Jems.com. September 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- Daily News. New York.
- ^ Herzenberg, Michael (28 May 2012). "Woman Works To Form All-Female Hasidic Jewish EMT Service". NY1. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
- ^ Ramirez, Jeanine (6 November 2019). "Woman Works To Form All-Female Hasidic Jewish EMT Service". NY1.
- ^ Levin, Joe (24 September 2011). "T.O.T. Private consulting services: Orthodox Women Demand To Join Hatzalah Ambulances". Privateinvesigations.blogspot.com. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "Answering the Call on 9-11". Behrman House Publishing.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Mike Hernandez' WTC 9/11 Footage (Enhanced Video/Audio & Doubled FPS)" – via YouTube.
- ^ a b A number of Hatzoloh volunteers wearing "Flatbush Hatzoloh Paramedics" uniforms are featured in the documentary film 102 Minutes That Changed America.
- ^ FDNY Call 0727 MCI40P Aircraft Incident/ Crash PDJob#01225500590 Date 9/11/01
- ^ "The Yeshiva World Audio Of Hatzolah Radio & Video: 7 Years Since 9/11". Theyeshivaworld.com. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "Image: One of the Hatzolah ambulances destroyed on 9-11. Boro Park Hatzolah – Sept. 11 Album". bphatzolah.org. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ The Hatzalah ambulance donated by NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in memory of his parents protected early Hatzalah responders, but was subsequently destroyed by falling debris after they were evacuated. Sheldon Silver: My 9/11: A New York United – Thirteen
- ^ "Image: Members cars piled up. Boro Park Hatzolah – Sept. 11 Album". bphatzolah.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ^ Zionce, Shloime (1 April 2020). "On the Frontline Against Coronavirus". Ami Magazine. No. 462.
- ^ "Boro Park Hatzolah Says Community Not Taking This Seriously". Yeshiva World News. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus Statement" (PDF). Hatzoloh Toronto. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ Boigon, Molly (1 April 2020). "Orthodox EMS' ventilator transfer solves hospital's conflict with Jewish patients — for now". Forward. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ Konkol, Mark (23 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Jewish EMS Service Donates Masks To Suburban Police". Patch. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ "The IDF Arrives in Surfside". Tablet Magazine. July 2021.
- ^ "Hatzalah paramedics at Florida building collapse: There is hope". The Jerusalem Post | Jpost.com.
- ^ NYC Regional branches can be found at Chevra Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc.
External links
- Hatzolah EMS of North Jersey
- Hatzolah Kiryas Tosh of Canada
- United Hatzalah of Israel Official website
- Hatzolah Darom of Ashdod, Israel
- Hatzalah of Michigan
- Hatzolah of Los Angeles
- Hatzalah of Chicago
- Hatzalah of the Jersey Shore
- Hatzolah of Sydney, Australia
- Chevra Hatzolah of Melbourne, Australia
- Chevra Hatzolah of Mexico City
- Hatzolah of Johannesburg, South Africa
- Hatzolah of Zurich, Switzerland
- Hatzolah of Antwerp, Belgium
- Hatzola North London, England
- Hatzola Manchester, England
- Hatzola Edgware, England
- Hatzolah Emergency Air Response Team, Inc. (Hatzolah Aviation Division)