'Emergency Care Olympics' test international participants' skills

By JUDY SIEGEL, JOSEPH ROBBINS
Rescue teams from Canada, the Czech Republic, Poland and Turkey on Monday joined first-aid teams from the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Police and Magen David Adom in the first-ever "Emergency Care Olympics." According to Dr. Dafna Givati of Magen David Adom, the games, starting near Hamat Gader, and continuing via Lake Kinneret to Acre, "are a way for teams from different countries around the world to come together and meet while learning from one another." Other countries have annual international versions of the games, which they open to dozens of countries. Givati, who competed in one of the events abroad hopes to transform Israel's competition into an international one in the coming years if all goes well this week. Israel's games will include 10 treatment and safety events intended to test the 28 participating teams on their skills and ability to function under pressure. Using mannequins and live actors to stage car accidents, terrorist attacks and other high-intensity situations, the event will call on the contestants' knowledge of cardiology, emergency respiration, pediatrics and trauma. The winners of the "Olympics" will be announced during a ceremony at the Tiberias Amphitheater on Wednesday at 11 a.m. In addition to recognizing the winning team, the ceremony will include music and dancing, as it acknowledges the services of all contestants.