FAQ

United Hatzalah volunteers rapidly provide treatment and stabilization of the patient and then integrate with the arriving ambulance crew to assist in the swift and efficient continuance of care and evacuation to hospital. With the patient appropriately cared for, the volunteer returns to his previously interrupted private life. United Hatzalah also serves an important function of calling off ambulances for the many cases when they are summoned but not needed. This frees the limited number of ambulances to respond more rapidly to true emergencies.

The first responder volunteers begin treatment in order to stabilize the condition. Receiving initial treatment within 5 minutes of the incident assures a higher chance of survival in critical situations, and speedier recovery in many other injuries and sicknesses. Brain death and permanent death start to occur in 4 to 6 minutes after someone experiences cardiac arrest. Victim's chances of survival are reduced by 7% to 10% with every minute that passes without defibrillation and advanced life support intervention.

In many places Hatzalah is used by the local Jewish community as an alternative EMS service for the Jewish community. United Hatzalah complements the existing ambulance services. There is an informal brotherhood of independent Hatzalah organizations throughout the world. They each operate according to the protocols of their own respective medical and executive boards.

United Hatzalah arrives within the first critical minutes of an emergency - treating victims in this crucial time frame minimizes potential brain damage and other serious threats and often results in lives being saved. United Hatzalah does not charge for its lifesaving activities while MDA and other ambulance services charges significant fees including surcharges for advanced lifesaving ambulance service and mileage based fees.

United Hatzalah medics are dispersed throughout Israel in any given town or city serving in the areas where they work, study and live. When United Hatzalah medics do need to travel within the city, they are able to deftly navigate traffic and other obstacles on their fully equipped ambucycles. Over 100 of these nimble ambucycles race throughout Israel saving lives. An ambulance must travel from a specific dispatch location and navigate a city full of traffic to reach an incident. A volunteer could be working in an office building downtown and might receive a call to help a heart attack victim from the very same building.

All United Hatzalah first responders are trained and certified as EMTs, Paramedics or MD’s by the existing medical training authorities under the supervision of the Israeli Ministry of Health. They must undergo rigorous continuing education courses, practical training and remain on active duty to ensure the highest level of professionalism.

Last year, United Hatzalah responded to over 112,500 calls, of which approximately 25,000 were critical lifesaving situations.

The Ministry of Health provides some grants. Local municipalities provide project related support. The majority of our support comes from individuals and foundations in Israel and internationally.

United Hatzalah relies on the generosity of individuals, federations, foundations and other charitable organizations from around the world. Join us and make a world of difference.