Shaare Zedek Trauma Teams Again Called Into Action In Response to Har Nof Terror Attack

Shaare Zedek Trauma Teams Again Called Into Action In Response to Har Nof Terror Attack

(JERUSALEM – TUESDAY, November 18, 2014- 2:30PM) Amidst increasing security tensions in Jerusalem, Shaare Zedek Medical Center’s trauma response teams were again called into action this morning following a terror attack in the nearby Har Nof neighborhood.

The attack, which as of the time of this writing had claimed the lives of four people, was perpetrated in a synagogue during morning prayers and involved the use of axes, knives and guns.  In addition to those killed at the scene, approximately eight others were injured including three who were transferred to Shaare Zedek and are being treated at this time for injuries resulting from both stab wounds and gunshots.

In addition to those being treated from the general public, a Shaare Zedek physician, Dr. Yitzchak Heshin was directly involved in the incident and lightly injured.  Dr. Heshin, a physician in the hospital’s Oncology Institute, was in the synagogue when the two terrorists burst in and directly approached him.  He was able to dive for cover behind a table before fleeing the scene.  In an interview with Israel Army Radio, Dr. Heshin said that despite his instincts as a doctor to save lives, he realized that the only action that would save his own would be to get as far from the scene as possible.

He eventually made his way to Shaare Zedek where he was treated for light wounds and described the emotional trauma of the incident which he said he will never be able to forget.

Dr. Ofer Merin, Deputy Director General at Shaare Zedek and Director of Trauma Services was charged with triaging and treating the patients.  Asked by reporters if the hospital had raised its responsiveness levels, Dr. Merin acknowledged that in recent weeks the terror threat had necessitated an even higher level of preparedness but that the nature of emergency medicine required that the trauma teams be ready at all times.

Earlier in the week Shaare Zedek treated a victim of a stabbing in central Jerusalem who was moderately injured and is recovering.  The hospital continues to treat Yehuda Glick, victim of a shooting attack earlier in the month who was seriously injured and whose condition has improved considerably in recent days and is fully communicating with friends and family.  

SZ - Chemical Missile Attack Drill

   

-- Patient arrival at the Medical Center via ambulance. The drill simulated a missile strike on the Jerusalem area with a chemical warhead.

-- Gurneys await their patients. These stretchers are specially equipped with oxygen tanks

  

-- Preparing for the arrival of the "casualties." All medical personnel located in the "clean zone" were outfitted with biohazard suits. Incident commanders recieved newly designed communications systems that were integrated into the chemical-resistant headgear.

-- With the IDF

  

  

--Dr. Ofer Merin, Director of Emergency Response at Shaare Zedek supervises the drill.

  

--Computer processing area. Every patient is photographed for internal review purposes and processed via the Shaare Zedek's internal computer system.

--Situation Control Room

  

--The casualty is treated with a decontamination powder before going under a high powered shower

  

  

--The patient is transferred "over the yellow line" and into the hospital indicating that he has been determined to be free of contamination and can be treated without special equipment.

Emergency Drill Tests Shaare Zedek's Disaster Readiness Levels

 

Less than a day after Jerusalem experienced its first major terror attack in years, Shaare Zedek Medical Center underwent a comprehensive emergency preparedness drill, testing the hospital’s disaster response systems and its cooperation with the local and national rescue services. 

 

Even while the drill had been planned several weeks prior to the terror attack, the experiences of the day prior drove home just how important it was for the medical community to be always ready for every eventuality.

 

Dr. Ofer Merin, Deputy Director General at Shaare Zedek, who supervises the hospital’s disaster response protocols, directed the drill and reported that they received high scores for excellence from the observers charged with providing grades. 

 

 

The drill, like all major exercises of this nature in Israel, is coordinated and observed by the Ministry of Defense through the IDF’s Homefront Command.  IDF officers are on hand in the hospital for the drill and compose the final report of recommendations based on the hospital’s performance.

 

The case being drilled in this event (the nature of which the hospital is given no prior notice,) involved a major bus accident involving about 80 children.  The hospital was called upon to quickly triage the victims and ensure they were sent to the proper areas for treatment. It was one of the first major drills in the country that focused heavily on children as victims. The drill tested the efficiency of both the general emergency facilities in the Weinstock Department of Emergency Medicine as well as the pediatric emergency response systems in the Gluabach Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine.

 

Given that the disaster involved a large number of children, who are known to be far more difficult to quickly identify, the drill placed heavy attention on coping with the aftermath of the incident and ensuring that the children were quickly and effectively reuniting them with their parents or caregivers. 

 

One doctor observed that even while they had been preparing for weeks for the drill, the piguah (terror attack) the day before put them in a mindset that helped remind the staff that mass-casualty incidents can occur at any time.  “As Jerusalem’s most centrally located hospital, we recognize that we need to be prepared at every moment for pretty much any eventuality,” the doctor said.  “Whether it’s an incident that results from hostile intentions like the terror attack on Wednesday or a gas explosion or bus accident, or even an earthquake- these are all things for which we at Shaare Zedek know that we must be prepared.”

 

Dr. Merin thanked the staff for their strong performances in the drill and said that while he hoped that the lessons learned should never need to be implemented, they know that there exists a very real threat to the Homefront.  “We are living in very tense times and know that there are many dangers that we face, so drills like this only help reassure the public and our staff that we are operating at the necessary levels of preparedness.”