On Tuesday morning, in the heart of Jerusalem’s Ezrat Torah neighborhood, a resident spotted a man sprawled on the playground floor from his apartment window and quickly alerted emergency services.

United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Arye Deblinger was on his way to work when he received the urgent alert on his communications device. He quickly responded and arrived at the playground within half a minute. Deblinger found the patient, a man in his 40s, lying unconscious without a pulse or breathing. 

Deblinger notified dispatch and initiated CPR. Instructing a passerby to perform chest compressions, he took out his defibrillator and connected it to the patient. It was a crucial moment, and the defibrillator he was about to use carried a special significance.

Three years ago, Deblinger’s grandfather, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Klein, had suffered a cardiac arrest, and United Hatzalah volunteers had come to his rescue. Klein donated this specific defibrillator to the organization three months ago in honor of those who saved his life. As Deblinger attached the defibrillator to the patient, he couldn’t help but reflect on the full circle of events.

United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Yechezkel Cohen quickly arrived and took over chest compressions. A shock was delivered, followed by chest compressions. Another shock was delivered as paramedics arrived and began to provide advanced life support.

For over 40 minutes, the coordinated efforts to save the man’s life continued. The defibrillator delivered six electric shocks until the patient’s pulse started to beat again. The patient was promptly transported to the hospital in an Advanced Life Support ambulance for further care.

“It’s an incredible feeling to use this defibrillator, donated by my grandfather following his own rescue, to help save another life,” Deblinger later reflected. “The first thing I did after the successful CPR was to call my grandfather to let him know. Lifesaving is a virtuous circle.”

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