On Wednesday evening at around 8:30 p.m., a 60-year-old gentleman collapsed on Ha’Atzmaut boulevard in Bat Yam after suffering a cardiac arrest.
United Hatzalah volunteers Beni Mizrachi and Raziel Bney Israeli, had just finished treating patients at the scene of a serious car accident when they were alerted to the second emergency occurring nearby. Despite their fatigue from responding to the prior accident, they drove straight to HaAtzmaut boulevard without a moment’s hesitation.
In under 3 minutes, the pair arrived at the scene and were relieved to see that there was an intensive care ambulance arriving alongside the patient and EMTs already treating him. They rushed over to help with the securing of the defibrillator to the patient and began CPR.
Throughout the resuscitation, the group of first responders alternated performing chest compressions on the patient and providing assisted ventilation. They paused each time a shock from the defibrillator was administered, with 8 shocks in total. The man was experiencing ventricular fibrillation and the shocks from the defibrillator in between rounds of CPR helped to restart the man’s heart in an attempt to halt the erratic heart rhythm and return the man’s heart to a regular pulse beat.
After approximately half an hour of treatment, the EMTs were relieved that the man’s pulse returned to a steady rhythm, and soon after he began breathing once again on his own.
“I started volunteering for United Hatzalah, and continue to volunteer, because each time I respond to an emergency I feel great satisfaction and happiness when I help another person,” Beni said, “The feeling is even greater when I help save a life, which this time we were fortunate enough to do so.”
Raziel said after the incident, “I volunteer for United Hatzalah out of love for my people and for my country and a desire to give to them and help them. It’s amazing to know that many people’s lives have been saved thanks to the work of the devoted volunteer EMTs, and I am proud to be one of them.”
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