Programs in Israel & Jersey City Shift the Paradigm of the Community's Role in Medical Response & Disaster Preparedness

One of the newest innovations in emergency medical response is the implementation of community-based immediate medical response teams. Implemented in communities around the globe, this model has been fine-tuned by EMS organizations such as United Hatzalah of Israel and United Rescue of Jersey City, N.J. These organizations are training and empowering community members, providing citizens with the medical training and equipment needed to shave off precious minutes in first-aid medical response. Investment in Resources The history of this community-based model began in Brooklyn in the 1960s when a small group of people began the first Hatzalah medical response organization. The group began to respond to emergencies within the community and continues to do so today. The idea spread and many community-based Hatzalah organizations were formed across the world, each working within their own community. The work these organizations do isn't aimed at transporting an injured or sick individual to the hospital, but in being the immediate response to save critical seconds in the start of care before an ambulance can arrive. Ambulances often get bogged down in traffic or held up by weather conditions such as snow or rain. These community-based models use responders on foot, bikes or motorcycles who are already near the location. In the case of mass casualty incidents or trauma, triage can begin and immediate medical treatment can already be taking place before the ambulances arrive.
Source: JEMS Patient Care - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: International Patient Care Source Type: news