“Red David Shield” (MDA) experts trained Bulgarian rescue teams

“Red David Shield” (MDA) experts trained Bulgarian rescue teams

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jxIPnk5fLh+CDs_=_צוותי החירום הבולגרים - צילום דוברות מדא 7.11.12Red David Shield experts helped recently in training Bulgarian emergency teams on coping with disasters such as accidents or terror acts. The course, with the participation of Bulgarian security and rescue experts and tens of firemen, policemen, physicians and rescue personnel of the Red Cross, was supervised personally by Israeli ambassador in Bulgaria, Shaul Kamisa Raz.

The long term cooperation between Israeli and Bulgarian experts produced an intensive two week course, that was finished last week, in which representatives of Red David Shield trained teams of Bulgarian Red Cross along with Bulgarian rescue teams in coping with mass disasters and events with many casualties. The cooperation in Bulgaria follows an international seminar arranged by Red David Shield in Israel in November 2012, with the participation of medical experts from 14 countries, including Bulgaria. Immediately after the seminar, Israel and Bulgaria agreed on further activity, in the form of this unique course.

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The course was conveyed by Dr. Assaf Peretz, medical manager of Red David Shield paramedics’ course, and Mr. Felix Lotan, Red David Shield’s .projects director of earthquake events. The course emphasized the management of events with many impaired persons, and focused in command, control and coordination between the various forces.  RDS representatives shared their experience with the Red Cross team members and volunteers, physicians of the Bulgarian Army and Sofia hospitals, workers of Sofia municipality, firemen and even telephone receptionists from the national emergency center (equivalent to US 911). The course took place in the building of the Bulgarian Red Cross in Sofia and was supervised personally by Israeli ambassador in Bulgaria, Shaul Kamisa Raz and president of Bulgarian Red Cross Christou Gregorov. At the end of the course it was agreed to examine jointly ways of training Bulgarian teams at Red David Shield in Israel.

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Dr Assaf Peretz said: “The important aim of the course was to achieve consistency and coordination between all bodies involved in emergency events in Bulgaria. Unfortunately, such events are not unfamiliar to people living in Israel, and therefore we were happy to be here to share our experience. We have won much respect and I hope that this cooperation will continue in the future”.

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General Manager of Red David Shield, Eli Bin, said: “The successful cooperation between the Ministry of Health, Red Cross representatives and the Bulgarian Embassy started when Red David Shield delegation was in the hospital following the terror attack in Burgos airport, and it will continue also in the future.  There are not many countries in the world whose rescue services are as experienced in events with many impaired persons like the national rescuing organization of the state of Israel, and we consider sharing our capabilities and our extensive know-how as a mission of huge importance. Of course, in addition to sharing our experience and know-how we shall be always pleased to meet with our colleagues and learn from the experience of  physicians and paramedics in other countries.”