On Monday evening, 43 teenagers from across the United States and Canada celebrated their graduation from the NCSY Hatzalah Rescue program. The joint United Hatzalah and NCSY program provides North American Jewish teenagers with EMS techniques and certifies them as emergency medical responders (EMRs) after completing an intensive 60-hour course.
The graduates’ skills were put to the test in a rigorous mass casualty incident (MCI) drill at Park Mexico in the Ben Shemen Forest near Modi’in. The scenario involved nearly 50 actors simulating victims of a mass shooting, complete with makeup to depict severe injuries, and featured special effects such as smoke, lighting, and sound to enhance the chaotic environment.
The teenagers, who were not informed of the drill beforehand, were divided into teams of 4 or 5, with each team being overseen by an experienced United Hatzalah volunteer EMT. Upon arrival at the scene of the “shooting,” the teenagers had to perform triage, administer initial treatment, and transport the “victims” to ambulances. This realistic exercise was a critical component of their training, allowing them to apply the knowledge and skills they had acquired.
Following the drill, the newly certified EMRs joined United Hatzalah volunteers on real-life ambulance shifts for a week and a half, gaining hands-on experience in emergency medical response across Israel.
Participant Josh Gerson, from New York, said, “Participating in the mass casualty drill developed my admiration for first responders and their work and helped prepare me to do similar work if necessary in the future. The loud noises, gory faces, and multitudes of tasks needed to be completed felt chaotic, but with organization and teamwork, we were able to accomplish our goal and “save” many people. I valued the opportunity to perform what we had learned in class in a physical setting.”
Kira Zatman, from Maryland, added, “This mass casualty incident drill gave me a chance to experience the chaos of working in emergency medicine, but also gave me the safety needed to make mistakes and learn.”
Marc Zharnest, NCSY Hatzalah Rescue program director, said, “The drill is the culmination of two weeks of hard work. 60 hours of class, hands-on experience, and getting a real opportunity to put their skills to the test. Each year, the participants continue to blow me away; this year in particular, the knowledge and demonstration of skills were second to none. The fact that there are so many teens here in a war willing to train and get out with first responders speaks to the true resolve of our people but also speaks to how special these teens are.”
“Particularly after October 7, it’s incredibly meaningful for me to see these young Jews take time in the summer to come to Israel, learn lifesaving skills, put them to test in a drill and then go on ambulance shifts to treat Israelis,” said Eli Beer, President and Founder of United Hatzalah. “I commend these young people and I am confident some of them will be part of the next generation of United Hatzalah volunteers.”
