Most of MDA’s medics start out as student volunteers and the vast majority of MDA’s staff offer their time for free, which is a testament to their talent and dedication.

And it’s not just MDA medics who need training.

Every bus and taxi driver in Israel MUST also hold a First Aid Certificate from Magen David Adom.

Training is an integral part of MDA’s work. Medics and paramedics are required to learn lifesaving skills.

Youth volunteers and ambulance drivers also require specialist training.

A significant amount of training equipment is required to train medics to deal with everything from everyday incidents to mass casualty situations and to ensure that MDA’s Blood Centre continues to be the most highly regarded in the world.

A basic training course in first aid for youth is of 60 hours’ duration and, for adults, it is 80 hours.

Within the framework of these courses, volunteers acquire a proficiency in heart-lung resuscitation, approach and treatment of patients, treatment of road and work accident victims, drowning, electrocution and the provision of first aid to infants and children.

Training is an on-going process. On average, each adult volunteer partipicates in 700 hours basic, specialist and refresher course time, while youth volunteers undertake, on average, 250 hours of study.