Magen David Adom

Magen David Adom in Israel, also known by the acronym Mada, is Israel's national rescue organization. The organization is based on the model of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and it provides first aid services, evacuation of casualties by ambulances, Israel's blood services, first-aid training and Emergency Medicine and Humanitarian Activities in Israel and around the world. Magen David Adom is run as a volunteer aid association that has been granted the status of a corporation by law. in an Emergency, you can Dial 101 to call Magen David Adom.

## **Volunteers**

Magen David Adom is mainly staffed by volunteers, and has over 10,000 people volunteering and over one million combined man-hours per year. The minimum age to join Magen David Adom's basic first aid course and become a volunteer is 15.

Since 2001, international volunteers aged 18 and over have the option to come to Israel for a two-month MDA Overseas Program in Memory of Yochai Porat . The program is named after its founder and first coordinator, who was killed by a sniper on 3 March 2002 while serving reserve duty as a combat medic in the IDF. All volunteers pass a 60-hour course that covers a wide range of topics ranging from common medical conditions and trauma situations to mass casualty events. Those who pass the course are then dispatched throughout the country and work with local volunteers in ambulances to provide initial medical care on the regular and Mobile Intensive Care Ambulances.

While the programme was originally financially supported by the Jewish Agency for Israel, it has recently been taken over by the Israel Experience organization, which also offers programs for Jewish youths on Birthright Israel trips.

Visitors to Israel are also welcome to donate blood through the "Sharing for Life" program. Since its inception in 2001, increasing numbers of people have donated blood, usually through groups such as Christian solidarity missions, or family Bar-Bat Mitzvas, especially during seasonal traditional pilgrimage times, such as Passover and Easter.

## **Tracing Service**

Magen David Adom's tracing service was established to assist in locating relatives lost in the Holocaust. In 2000–2007, the service handled 5,000 applications.

## **Donor Eligibility**

Magen David Adom provides some restrictions on who can donate blood, largely in line with CDC guidelines. For example, donors must be above 18 years old (or 16 years old with parental permission) and below 65 years old. As of January 2018, however, Magen David Adom allows men who have sex with men to donate blood. Restrictions that previously barred Ethiopian immigrants from donating blood were also dropped.

## **Mada Districts**

### **Northern District**

#### Esher Section

Akko, Karmiel, Ma'alot-Tarshisha, Nahariyya, Ma'ale-Yosef, Saknin, Yirka, Julis, Shlomi & Shikh Danon.

#### Gilbo'a Section

Afula, Beit She'an, Jordan Valley, Migdal ha-Emek, Shimshit, Nazereth, Umm al-Fahm, Nof ha-Galil, Yona Mountain, Ekhsal, Yafia & Kfar Tavor.

#### Yarden Section

Tveria, Avivim, Bnei Yehuda, Sde Ilan, Tzemakh, Lower Galilee, Hatzor ha-Glilit, Metula, Meron Golan, Tzfat, Katzrin, Kiryat Shmona & Yivna'el.

#### Karmel Section

Haifa, Tirat Karmel, Yokne'am Illit, Neve Shanan, Nesher, Mitzpe Adi, Kiryat Ata, Kiryat Tiv'on & Kiryat Motzkin

#### Sharon Section

Netanya, Or Akiva, Foreydis, Bat Khefer, Zikhron Ya'akov, Hadera, Baka al-Gharbiye, Kiryat ha-Sharon [East Netanya], Kiryat Nordau [South Netanya], Menashe, Shaked, Kharish, Pardes Khana, Kfar Yona & Kadima-Tzoren.

### **Central District**

#### Ayalon Section

Rishon Lezion, Rehovot, Nes Ziona, Yavne, Gedera, Lod, Holon, Bat Yam, Modi'in, Tel Aviv, Modi'in Illit.

#### Yarkon Section

Petah Tikva, Kfar Saba, El'ad, Einav, Itzhar, Taibe, Herzliya, Ra'anana, , Kiryat Ono, Yehud, Or Yehuda, Karnei Shomron, Shevi Shomron, Beit Aryeh, Rosh ha-Ah'in, Ramat ha-Sharon, Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak, Kokhav Ya'ir, Elkana, Alfei Menashe, Tira, Kalansawa, Jaljulya, Savyon, Givat Shmuel, Givatayim, Hod ha-Sharon & Shoham.

### **Eastern District**

#### Jerusalem Section

Jerusalem, Efrat, Beit Shemesh, Jenin, Nablus, Jericho, Ramallah, Beit Shemesh, Beitar illit, Givat Ze'ev, Talmon, Megilot, Ma'ale-Adumim, Pisgat Ze'ev, Hebron, Mivreshet Zion, Makor Haim, Efra, Kiryat Arba & Taku'ah.

### **Southern District**

#### Lakhish Section

Ashdod, Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Malakhi, Gan Yavne, Mavki'im, Netiv ha-Asara, Bahal Shorek, Sderot, Gaza, Khan Yunis, Jabaliya & Rafah.

#### Negev Section

Be'er Sheva, Ofakim, Netivot, Eshkol, Rahat, Dimona, Arad, Sapir, Yeroham, Mitzpe Ramon, Tamar, Eilat, Eilat, Ramat Hovev, Meytar, Ksayfe & Ahr'ur.