Devo Klein – Israel Seen Exclusive – A Quick Pit Stop –
Volunteer EMT Saves A Man’s Life With Oxygen On The Way To Pick Up His Son
On November 1st, just after 3:00 p.m., United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Aryeh Shavit was on his way home from work on his ambucycle. As he was turning the corner to his street, his communications device alerted him to a medical emergency occurring nearby. Although Aryeh was due to pick his son up from kindergarten after returning home, the EMT didn’t hesitate as he sped to the given location.
Arriving in just 30 seconds, Aryeh parked his ambucycle, grabbed his medical kit, and ran into the home. Aryeh encountered an agitated Russian-speaking family who quickly ushered him to their 72-year-old father who lay on his bed, eyes closed and breathing heavily. In their broken Hebrew the family explained that their father had multiple health issues, but was stable until a few minutes ago, when he became confused and complained it was hard for him to breathe. The man then seemed to fade out and that’s when the family called for help.
Aryeh quickly checked the man’s oxygen level and finding it quite low, immediately administered vital oxygen from his O2 tank. He then monitored the man’s vital signs, continued the oxygen therapy, and calmed the frantic family for 20 minutes until the mobile intensive care ambulance (MICU) finally arrived.
The stable patient was transported in the MICU to the nearest hospital and Aryeh hurried home to get his family car and go pick up his son from school, albeit a bit late. Fortunately, the school appreciated their student’s life-saving father and were quite understanding.
“I was very lucky to be at the right place at the right time,” said Aryeh. “The MICU team took 20 minutes to arrive, and the man could have died waiting. My early arrival and administering of oxygen were important components in saving the man’s life. The oxygen that I carry with me as part of my medical supplies, allows me to assist people suffering from a variety of medical emergencies including this one. I am very grateful to be equipped with one, and carry it with me everywhere I go. This isn’t the first time that I have saved someone’s life by using it, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.”
