The day United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Tmira Ohana set out from Bet Dagan last month, she expected an ordinary drive home. The drama that was soon to unfold would forever change her; for the better! This was the day she was about to save a life. Shortly after embarking on her journey, Tmira found herself in the middle of a roadside emergency that would put all her medical skill to the ultimate test.

Approaching the Shapirim Interchange on Route 4, Tmira noticed a vehicle drifting forward at an unusually slow pace. Moments later, two men stepped out of a car behind it and attempted to get the driver’s attention. Their efforts failed. The gentleman behind the wheel was unresponsive.

Seeing this in the distance, Tmira immediately pulled over and ran toward the scene.

Inside the vehicle sat a middle-aged driver who appeared to be unconscious. Tmira quickly alerted United Hatzalah’s Call Center and requested that an advanced life support ambulance be dispatched without delay. The two bystanders forced open the vehicle door and turned off the ignition, giving her access to begin lifesaving care.

Working through her emergency care protocol, Tmira noted the absence of cardiac distress and verified that the man was breathing. Then a distinct smell caught her attention. Acetone.

Her suspicion sharpened. She checked the man’s blood glucose. The monitor flashed a reading of 30. It was a severe hypoglycemic episode.

With no time to lose, Tmira administered glucogel along the patient’s gums, gradually coaxing his body back from unconsciousness while continuing to monitor his vital signs.

“It was extremely stressful,” she recalled. “But at the same time, I felt this deep sense of clarity. I knew exactly what needed to be done. This was the day I was going to save a life.”

By the time the ALS crew arrived, the driver had begun to stabilize thanks to her rapid intervention.

For Tmira, the moment crystallized why she volunteers.

“That day, I knew I had saved a life,” she said. “It is something I will never forget.”

United Hatzalah’s network of volunteer medics responds to emergencies around the clock. Tmira’s swift actions on a busy highway demonstrate the extraordinary impact a single trained responder can make.

Every call is a chance to change a life. Sometimes, to save one.