One month ago, at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday night, United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Guy Ezer was at home in Northern Tel-Aviv when his communications device alerted him to a nearby medical emergency. A man on Levitan Street was suffering from acute chest pains portending a possible heart attack. The 47-year-old man called United Hatzalah’s Dispatch and Command Center for help. Despite the address being relatively far, and Guy winding down after a long day at work, the volunteer decided that someone’s life could be on the line, hopped on his ambucycle, and rushed to the scene.

Hurrying inside with his rescue kit, Guy found himself at the home of a friend and co-worker from Intel. The man was deeply relieved to see the familiar “angel in orange” arrive at his doorstep. Guy had arrived with additional medical personnel and decided that his job that night was to help calm and reassure his colleague. Caring for his friend as an arriving intensive care crew helped monitor the man’s vital signs, the two were comforted that the electrocardiography (EKG) showed no signs of cardiac distress.

Guy parted ways with the man, as he was taken to the nearest hospital for further observation. The next day at work, Guy ran into his friend who thanked him once more for arriving and helping him. Within all the confusion and chaos, he was relieved to see a friendly face.

“When I spotted my colleague, I realized that I just had lunch with this man that same day and here he was having a possible heart attack,” Commented Guy. “Seeing him the next day at work, after he had recovered, was a pleasant reminder of why I volunteer with United Hatzalah as a first responder. He couldn’t stop thanking me, despite the fact that all I did was comfort him. It is instances like these that remind me just how important my work is to those whom I help, even when all I can do is offer comfort to the patient. When people receive help, no matter what kind, they are often very grateful. During this time of tension and stress caused by the continued spread of the Coronavirus, anyone can help another person. Whether it’s a neighbor, friend, co-worker, or family members, don’t need EMT training to help someone else, you just need the ability to listen and be there for another person and a desire to help others.”

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