Number of violence victims treated by MDA doubled in 2007

However, number of people treated for work accidents dropped significantly and totaled 2,500 calls.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
mda ambulance 224.88 (photo credit: MDA)
mda ambulance 224.88
(photo credit: MDA)
The number of victims of violence treated by Magen David Adom staffers increased by 100 percent last year compared to 2006, while treatment of stroke victims rose by 50%. However, the number of people MDA treated for work accidents dropped significantly and totaled 2,500 calls. MDA issued a number of statistics on Thursday. Its 12,000 staff and volunteer medics and paramedics went on an average of 1,315 calls each day in 2007, or a total of 480,000 over the whole year. MDA collected 280,000 units of blood and gave courses in emergency medicine to 50,000 people. It also began giving first-aid to school pupils last year as part of a new program worked out with the education and health ministries. MDA said the number of victims of violence treated by its staff rose in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh and Mevaseret Zion. The number of accidental strangulation cases rose "significantly" last year in Sderot, Tirat Hacarmel, Karmiel and Ariel. Yavne had the highest rate of calls of this kind, with 1.03 per 1,000 residents. The number of calls to treat heart attack victims rose by 2.5%, with the highest rise in Binyamina (44 calls compared to 25 in 2006). Kiryat Bialik residents made 30.6 calls per 1,000 to help heart attack victims, putting the Haifa suburb at the top of the list. Netivot and Gan Yavne each had a nearly 50% increase in calls for help to stroke victims. A total of 10,586 calls were made to MDA to help people having a stroke.