מי יחיה מי ימות Community organizations dealing with life and death issues daily and some of the שאלות that arise

Hi Reb Dovid,
I hope all is well. I have been a long time listener and enjoy your program. I am a Hatzolah member.

I have a comment and a story for you regarding the last episode about Hatzolah.

Rabbi …. was the rabbi of Hatzolah. I remember in one his classes he mentioned that we cannot prepare on Shabbos for a second call. The reason we can return from a call including your example of coming back from the hospital is only because it will slow down care if I or my wife know that I might be stuck for hours and I will be less likely to Jump on a call so quickly, hoping another member who is maybe closer, etc. Answer it which ultimately will slow down patient care.

My story is a few years ago late afternoon on Yom Kippur I used to be the Baal Tefila for Mincha. A call came out close by. I dropped my Talis an responded to a lady who passed out from fasting. When I gave her a glass of orange juice for her to drink, her responds was, “I’m feeling a little better and I could make it to the end of the fast”. My retort was ” I drove here in my Kittel you are drinking the juice”!

Hatzlocha Rabbah and Good Shabbos!

My son who is an active Hatzolo responder for nearly 25 years mentioned that in the thousands of calls that he has responded to, he has all too often seen callers who are usually intelligent, learned, mesudar , mentally freeze up due to panic resulting in misinterpreted situations and delayed calls.and responses. Unfortunately, loi olaynu, this has resulted in Loss of life particularly on Shabbos.
In his opinion, if something happens, you always call Hatzolo, and let the experienced, trained dispatchers and responders assess how to proceed.