Community Emergency Response Teams in Israel after October 7, 2023

Summary: On October 7, 2023, over 6,000 Hamas terrorists from Gaza invaded border communities in Israel, killing more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and injuring 1,455. In addition, 239 Israelis and foreign nationals were taken hostage, resulting in the country’s largest mass casualty event (MCE). Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s National Emergency Pre-Hospital Medical and Organization, began establishing Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) based on the concept developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the United States. The teams, all volunteers, consist of physicians, nurses, paramedics, and EMTs who focus on primary care for victims, especially in situations where immediate evacuation is not possible or when resources are limited. The volunteers are vetted and registered by MDA. Following recruitment, the volunteers undergo comprehensive training, including prehospital trauma life support, search and rescue medicine, and MCE management. In addition to the technical training, emphasis is placed on developing teamwork skills and cooperation with other emergency agencies, including the fire department and the police. Particular emphasis is placed on scenarios simulating complex “desert-island” emergencies, in which it is necessary to treat the victims for a prolonged period until they can be evacuated. The teams are trained to work in three different areas: the disaster site, the treatment station, and the observation station. So far, 11,441 volunteers have been recruited to cover 593 community teams throughout Israel. Of the volunteers, 1,890 received equipment for basic first aid, 6,419 received equipment for basic life support, and 719 received equipment for advanced life support. In addition, 10,000 on-call volunteer first responders have already registered with MDA. Some of the model’s challenges include hazardous working conditions, limited resources, and communication issues from damage to existing infrastructure. Advantages of the community model include high availability, rapid response, and local knowledge.