Experience Israel in an entirely different way and save lives while doing it. The Magen David Adom Ambulance Volunteer Program gives you the opportunity to spend two exciting and satisfying months gaining hands on first-aid and emergency care experience in Israel. Magen David Adom (the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross), provides emergency first aid services throughout Israel and works with its volunteers to provide effective initial treatment. The MDA Volunteer Program invites you to join them and work side by side with Israeli volunteers and professional staff.
The program is named for Yochai Porat, who is the founder and first coordinator of the program. Yochai Porat was killed in 2002, while serving his reserve duty with the IDF. Yochai originally began volunteering in MDA at the age of 15. He served as a combat medic in the army, including running a military infirmary in Lebanon. After the army he continued to volunteer and became a senior medic and ambulance driver. In 2001, he began coordinating the program for overseas volunteers. He was killed by a Palestinian sniper while trying to give medical care to a fellow soldier. His love and dedication for this program has continued to be passed down since his death, and will continue to do so.
During the volunteer period you will have the opportunity to experience Israel in a very real sense. While riding an ambulance throughout the city where you are placed, youll have the chance to meet the Israeli population with its wide diversity of people, its many colors, religions and beliefs. You will be working with Israelis in an Israeli environment, perfecting your Hebrew and making wonderful new friends. All this while learning an invaluable skill and most importantly, caring for people and saving lives.

The training course, which takes place during the first week of the program, is mandatory in order to volunteer for MDA. The course is very intense and classes will run from early in the morning until late at night. Successful completion of the course certifies the participant as a "Certified First Responder" through MDA Israel.
It begins with an intense 9-day/ 60-hour first-aid training course in English and basic Hebrew, the training course covers material ranging from bandaging a simple wound to CPR and mass casualty incidents. Following the successful completion of the course, participants are placed in MDA stations throughout Israel where they work in ambulances together with Israeli volunteers and staff. The program runs for a period of six to eight weeks including the training course. Applicants who have prior emergency care or medical experience are welcome to join the Program, but will still have to participate in the training course. MDA regulations require that all participants undergo the training course, regardless of prior experience, due to significant differences between MDA emergency care procedures and those of other Ambulance Corps.
The course will take place "in house" in a youth hostel or absorption center. Housing and three meals a day are provided during the course in order to allow you to focus entirely on your studies.
Although courses are given in English, Spanish, and French, the participants are required to have a conversational level of Hebrew to be accepted . Throughout the course Hebrew vocabulary words will be given and used, and participants will be tested on these words. Slides and other training material may be presented in Hebrew and then explained in English, in order to enforce the Hebrew vocabulary. According to MDA regulations, students are required to participate in all classes during the training course; unusual circumstances may be considered by the course director.

Accommodations are provided in Jewish Agency Absorption Centers throughout Israel. The accommodations are apartment style dorms, but do not include meals and transportation.
Participants must bring with them adequate funds to cover food, transportation and entertainment while on the program.
During summer months, participants may also be housed in alternate housing such as dormitories, hostels and hotels for an additional fee.

Participants are required to do five 8-hour shifts a week while on the program.
Participants will be assigned to morning (7:00-15:00) and night (23:00-7:00) shifts.
Afternoon (15:00-23:00) shifts are available to overseas volunteers in some stations, but in most, these are shifts specifically saved for Israeli high school volunteers.
The shifts are assigned by the station Volunteer Coordinator according to the stations needs with consideration of the volunteer's requests.
On the ambulance you will be supervised by a medic (the driver).

After having completed the 60-hour first responder course, and your requirement of hours at your stations, there are some other training opportunities available. MDA offers a course known as Shlav Bet and an instructor's course to its overseas volunteers who want to advance their training as well as teach future courses. In order to take the instructors course you must have passed both the 60-hour course, and Shlav Bet.
Shlav Bet reviews the 60-hour course material, teaches its students about pregnancy and childbirth, helping to assist with intubations, and preparation of medications, as well as learning to insert an IV to patients in need. Completion of this course certifies you as a Senior First Responder in Israel. As for the instructors course, you are tested on your knowledge of the material in the 60-hour course. After this testing, you are taught various techniques and methods on how to teach the material to future classes. You prepare and teach lessons during the course.
After the course, you are required to teach at least 2 courses for the MDA program when assigned to you. For more information contact the MDA office personnel.