United Hatzalah- First Response that Saves Lives

What is United Hatzalah?

United Hatzalah is an organization of over 6,000 volunteers (medics, paramedics and doctors) who provide an immediate response within minutes of any medical incident for free. United Hatzalah volunteers respond to more than 250,000 calls per year throughout Israel, saving lives every day.

Why is United Hatzalah necessary?

United Hatzalah volunteers provide lifesaving medical care on the scene of emergencies prior to the arrival of an ambulance. United Hatzalah medics arrive on average in 3 minutes or less from the time of the call. In metropolitan areas, the average response time is 90 seconds or less.
United Hatzalah medics treat and stabilize the patient and then cooperate with the arriving ambulance crew, which typically arrives 8-15 minutes after the initial call for help. In outlying areas, the wait for an ambulance can be significantly longer.

Why does response time need to be under 3 minutes?

First responder volunteers begin treatment in order to stabilize a patient’s condition. Receiving initial treatment within 3 minutes of the incident assures a higher chance of survival in critical situations, and speedier recovery for many other injuries and illnesses. Brain death and permanent death transpires 4 to 6 minutes after someone experiences cardiac arrest. A victim’s chances of survival are reduced by 7% to 10% with every minute that passes without defibrillation and advanced life support intervention.

What is the difference between United Hatzalah and ambulance services?

United Hatzalah arrives within the first critical minutes of an emergency, thanks to its community-based response system, ambucycles, and the LifeCompass System. Treating victims in this crucial time frame minimizes potential brain damage and other serious threats, and often results in lives being saved. If an ambulance arrived 15 minutes later, the person could dead if the ambucycle wasn’t there in the crucial moments. In addition to other Israel ambulance services, United Hatzalah now has 26 ambulances on the road that are free of charge.

How many calls does United Hatzalah respond to?

Annually, United Hatzalah responds to more than 648,000 emergency calls, of which approximately 25% are critical lifesaving situations.

What is the difference between United Hatzalah and ambulance services?

United Hatzalah arrives within the first critical minutes of an emergency, thanks to its community-based response system, ambucycles, and the LifeCompass System. Treating victims in this crucial time frame minimizes potential brain damage and other serious threats, and often results in lives being saved. If an ambulance arrived 15 minutes later, the person could dead if the ambucycle wasn’t there in the crucial moments. In addition to other Israel ambulance services, United Hatzalah now has 26 ambulances on the road that are free of charge.

How many calls does United Hatzalah respond to?

Annually, United Hatzalah responds to more than 648,000 emergency calls, of which approximately 25% are critical life saving situations.

Does the government support United Hatzalah financially?

The government does provide limited funding and local municipalities provide project-related support. The majority of United Hatzalah’s support comes from individuals and foundations in Israel and internationally.

Does United Hatzalah charge for its services?

Unlike other Israeli ambulance companies, United Hatzalah does NOT charge for its services and does not pay its volunteers. We work out of passion and dedication – all our equipment is provided by donations. (Even our ambulances are free of charge!)