Final day of Magen David Adom Training

Hey everyone,

Yesterday, Wednesday, I took the final for my 60 hour MDA course.

MDA in a nutshell is the Israeli version of the American Red Cross. I've learned so much about medical studies. For example, I have learned what is, what the signs are and how to treat the most common non-traumatic situations/conditions such as strokes, concussions, diabetes, etc. I also learned the same things about traumatic situations such as head/abdominal/chest/spinal injuries and the five different types of shock. I learned how to administer CPR to adults, children and babies. I also learned PHTLS (pre hospital trauma life support) which entails keeping the patient alive until we transport him to the hospital.

I took the exam yesterday, and passed everything on my first try except for PHTLS, which I took today and passed! I am now officially a MDA first respondent! Today we went to the MDA central station and learned all about the inside of the ambulance. We saw where all the bandages were, the IV's, the collapasable beds and chairs, etc. It was really cool. I'm really looking forward to actually volunteering for MDA in the near future.

Tonight I'm going to the MDA barbeque for our class and instructors. It should be a good time. After I'm meeting up with one of my friends on Young Judea Yearcourse and Kevonim. That should be fun too.

Here's some pictures from MDA class:

From Left top- Seffi, David, Me, Noah Seth
From left bottom- Kay, John, Sophie, Steja, Seri (the teacher)



This is my roommate Seffi with the thumbs up, David in the backboard, Me and Noah my staff member.



John, Sophie and I backboarded David all by ourselves in under 3 minutes!



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This upcoming Shabbat, I will be traveling to Ashkelon to camp out with about 10 other Nativers. I just got back from the Shuk, where I bought a ton of food with my friend Judah, and we only spent about 35 NIS per person (roughly 9 dollars) for pita, apples, tangerines, grapes, marzapan (rugalach, the best sweet food in Israel), Pringles, peanut butter Bamba, 2 different kinds of nuts and a bag of dried apricots. And that will be our food from Friday afternoon until Saturday night. As my dad says, "food fit for a king."

Shabbat Shalom, have a good and restful one. I'll be sure to give a good update when I get back from Ashkelon!

Josh