Pulsethe WESTERN EDITION
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The Newsletter of American Friends of Magen David Adom | Winter 2018 | Issue 7 PulseTHE WESTERN EDITION IN THIS ISSUE Messages from Leadership �����������������������������������������������������pg� 2 Marcus National Blood Services Center Update ������� pg� 10 Overseas Volunteer ������������������������������������������������������������������� pg� 16 Sponsorship Opportunities ������������������������������������������������������pg� 4 Regional News ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� pg� 12 Legacy Giving ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ pg� 17 Stories from Israel ������������������������������������������������������������������������pg� 5 MDA's Stork Club ��������������������������������������������������������������������� pg� 15 Contact Us ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ pg� 19 MESSAGE FROM MDA DIRECTOR-GENERAL ELI BIN MESSAGE FROM AFMDA LEADERSHIP We're in a constant battle to match our enemies’ People support MDA for many reasons: to stay connected determination to take lives with our innovations to to Israel, to recognize MDA's heroic first-responders, or save them. MDA is more important than ever, because to keep family traditions of philanthropy thriving. In most we use every resource at our disposal to find new ways cases, it's a combination of all three. to shorten critical response times, ensuring that more Israelis survive their attackers. Whatever brings you to MDA, you're part of community — indeed, a family that extends across oceans — that's Our state-of-the-art command-and-control center, the bound by a deep commitment to saving lives. Mamlam, continues to coordinate, dispatch, and track every emergency response vehicle in Israel — whether Since the current wave of terror began in September MDA ambulances or any other private EMS company’s 2015, 62 innocent people have been killed in terrorist resources. And thanks to our partners in America, attacks with nearly 900 wounded. MDA's world-class we’re able to demonstrate our proprietary dispatch paramedics respond to every attack. And they're first and tracking technology to communities all over the on the scene of daily medical emergencies like car U.S. in the hope that Americans can benefit from our accidents, or sudden illness. technological innovations too. The My MDA app has revolutionized how patients interact Think about how much worse the numbers would be if with our emergency dispatchers and first-responders. MDA didn’t arrive instantly to save these innocent people. Our Life Guardian Program enlists — and deploys to This recent wave of terror is hard to stop, but we can emergencies — tens of thousands of everyday Israelis make a difference by helping MDA in its effort to keep to help administer basic CPR. And the new Marcus people alive — often under seemingly long odds. National Blood Services Center will be the world’s first So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your subterranean blood-processing and storage facility. unwavering support of MDA’s lifesaving work. Families in These are just some of the innovations that complement Israel are intact today because of your support. We hope the world-class training our EMTs and paramedics we can continue counting on our fellow Americans to not receive before they ever set foot out in the field. just dream about saving lives, but also act on this truly Your support makes it all happen. We are partners in sacred mission. saving lives, and your generosity is the cornerstone of every lifesaving act we are honored to perform. MARK D. LEBOW National Chairman, AFMDA Todah rabah, DAVID M. FRANKEL CEO, AFMDA ELI BIN Director-General, MDA WINTER 2018 THE PULSE 3 2 WINTER 2018 THE PULSE SPONSORSHIP AND GIFT OPPORTUNITIES MDA STORIES FROM ISRAEL Commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Israel by Helping Provide 70 New Ambulances for Its People Since the wave of terror began in September 2015, 62 innocent people have been killed in terrorist attacks, The miracle of Israel isn’t just about its re- celebrating Israel’s 70th anniversary by supporting of Magen David Adom� “While Life Support with another 898 wounded. There have been 190 stabbing establishment as the Jewish homeland in AFMDA’s 70 for 70 Campaign, a program designed Ambulances cost $100,000, this program attacks and 139 attempted stabbings; 171 shooting attacks; 1948, after a nearly 2000-year absence as an to put 70 additional ambulances on the streets of enables donors to pool their contributions independent state� It’s also about Israel’s continued Israel to save lives� with other people committed to saving lives in and 61 car rammings. survival since then and its ability to thrive socially, “Through the 70 for 70 Campaign, donors are Israel by purchasing these lifesaving vehicles economically, and democratically through ceaseless together�” As long as there are Israelis in need, wherever they are, able to sponsor ambulances that every day will be MDA and its world-renowned first-responders will be political and military attacks� involved in saving lives in Israel,” says Cathy Reed, Donate to AFMDA’s 70 for 70 Campaign at Join American Friends of Magen David Adom in chief development officer of American Friends www�afmda�org/donate� there to save them. Here are some of the most recent incidents: SPONSOR A PARAMEDIC MARCUS NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICES CENTER • In December 2017, security guard Asher Elmaliach, They’re heroes in Israel� But not without you� For $4,000, you can equip MDA’s Marcus National Blood Services Center is still under was stabbed in the heart during a terror attack at an MDA paramedic or EMT for a year with critical tools to save lives� construction, and sponsorship opportunities are available — from Jerusalem’s central bus station. A team of MDA naming a molecular lab to securing the facility’s subterranean floors� first-responders, including Senior EMT Rivka Or (read This is the highest-priority national security project in Israel today, and her story on Page 9) rushed to the scene, treated Asher, your support will safeguard Israel's national blood supply� and quickly evacuated him to Shaare Zedek Medical Center. Asher survived the attack. • MDA emergency responders, with the assistance of the IDF medical force, successfully treated and transported a 34-year-old man who was stabbed in the hand in February 2018. MDA AMBULANCES AND MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE UNITS Every year, MDA needs 100 new ambulances to replenish its fleet� MEDICYCLES Without them, Israelis are at risk� MDA’s revolutionary, three-wheeled Medicycles offer paramedics the ability to navigate hard-to-reach patients� More than 500 are in use today, but more are needed — especially in heavily congested urban centers� Sponsor a Medicycle with a gift of $36,000� MDA FUN FACT $125,000 is the average cost for a Mobile Intensive Care Unit To learn more about these items or any other funding opportunities, contact your regional AFMDA office (see Page 19) or AFMDA Chief Development Officer Catherine Reed at [email protected] or 866.632.2763. 4 WINTER 2018 THE PULSE WINTER 2018 THE PULSE 5 MDA STORIES FROM ISRAEL MDA Inaugurates 500th Medicycle Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson Dedicate Five New MDA Armored Ambulances At a ceremony at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv in early January, MDA inaugurated five bullet-proof ambulances sponsored by Sheldon and Dr. Miriam Adelson for use in Judea and Samaria. The Adelsons are tremendous supporters of Israel and AFMDA and, in October 2017, made a leadership gift supporting the new Marcus National Blood Services Center. MDA To Open Israel’s First MDA inaugurated 14 new Medicycles — including its 500th — in Breast Milk Bank a festive ceremony at its Tiberius medical station on January 17� MDA to Roll Out eCall Sensors MDA’s National Blood Services Center recently announced it will The newest Medicycles will be deployed to northern Israeli regions, soon open Israel’s first breast milk bank to allow nursing mothers to including the Golan Heights, the Galilee, and the Jordan Valley� in April donate surplus milk for babies who don't have access to it� Medicycles are specially designed motorcycles that shorten valuable MDA will be able to respond to car accidents, even when the driver Approximately 500 milk banks exist around the world, but this will emergency response time by weaving through hard-to-navigate places is unconscious and no one witnessed the crash, thanks to new be the first in Israel� It is scheduled to begin operation in April 2018, in Israel — such as congested highways and narrow streets — ahead technology rolling out in Israel starting in April� MDA is working in conjunction with Israel’s Health Ministry and of incoming MDA ambulances� With eCall, sensors on new vehicles will capitalize on MDA’s the Israel Milk Bank, a nonprofit organization that works toward AFMDA National Board Member Barry Feldman was the first American cutting-edge geolocation capabilities — a feature most American creating a human milk bank in Israel� to sponsor a Medicycle in 2013� 911 centers don’t have, alerting MDA EMTs when a car has been involved in an accident� Dispatchers will then be able to use a MDA FUN FACT “To me, saving lives in Israel means we should try almost cellular connection in the car to talk to the driver and send an everything,” Feldman said� “These vehicles are amazing ambulance if the driver is unresponsive or says they’re injured� innovations, and I’m especially proud that so many other