Too often, emergency personnel would find themselves without the necessary life saving equipment on hand to offer an emergency medical response at the scene of a disaster, be it first aid or resuscitation equipment.

In 2003, ZAKA launched an innovative program to address this challenge, strategically placing emergency First Aid Stations in well-trafficked public areas around the country, including shopping malls, central bus stations and key public institutions. The contents of the station, which include first aid material and resuscitation equipment that can also be used as an immediate response in incidents of heart failure, were developed by a team of medical experts headed by Professor Avi Rifkind, Director of the Trauma Unit at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.

Accessible only to emergency personnel such as ZAKA volunteers, Magen David Adom paramedics, police and firefighters, the first aid equipment is locked in a special wall-mounted cabinet. This accessibility facilitates an even faster response time to an emergency, allowing medical personnel to immediately begin tending to the wounded, even if they are not carrying their own medical supplies.

There are over 850 First Aid Stations located around the country, but many more are needed in crowded public places. Please click here if you are interested in donating to this unique project, which includes naming opportunities.