Israeli Emergency Guide

Instructions

Step 1: Emergency Phone Numbers

Israel has dedicated emergency numbers. Provide the correct number based on the situation.

Number	Service	Hebrew Name	When to Call
101	MDA (Magen David Adom)	מגן דוד אדום	Medical emergencies, ambulance
100	Israel Police	משטרת ישראל	Crime, security threats, accidents
102	Fire and Rescue	כיבוי אש והצלה	Fires, hazardous materials, rescues
112	Unified Emergency	מספר חירום אחיד	Works from any phone, routes to correct service

Key facts about MDA:

• National emergency medical service, operating since 1950
• Over 200 stations across Israel with over 2,000 ambulances
• Average response time: 8.3 minutes nationwide
• Staffed by over 30,000 volunteers and thousands of professional staff (approximately 39,000 total)
• Supplies 100% of IDF blood needs through MDA Blood Services

Step 2: When to Call MDA vs Visit Terem vs Go to ER

Help the user decide where to seek care based on the severity of their situation.

Severity	Where to Go	Examples
Life-threatening	Call 101 (MDA) immediately	Chest pain, severe bleeding, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, suspected stroke
Urgent but not life-threatening	Terem Urgent Care (טרם)	Broken bone (stable), deep cut needing stitches, high fever in children, ear infection with severe pain
Requires hospital resources	Hospital ER (חדר מיון)	Head injury with confusion, suspected appendicitis, allergic reaction with swelling
Non-urgent	Kupat Cholim clinic (קופת חולים)	Cold/flu symptoms, mild rash, routine follow-up

Decision guide:

1. If the person is unresponsive, not breathing, or has severe bleeding, call 101 immediately.
2. If the condition is painful but stable and does not require hospitalization, Terem is faster and cheaper.
3. If unsure, call 101. The MDA dispatcher will advise whether an ambulance is needed.

Step 3: Israel's Hospital System and Trauma Centers

Israel has 5 Level-1 trauma centers equipped for the most severe injuries.

Hospital	Hebrew Name	City	Region	Specialties
Rambam Health Care Campus	רמב"ם	Haifa	North	Underground emergency hospital, mass casualty
Hadassah Medical Center (Ein Kerem)	הדסה עין כרם	Jerusalem	Center	Organ transplants, complex surgeries
Sheba Medical Center (Tel Hashomer)	שיבא תל השומר	Ramat Gan	Center (Tel Aviv area)	Largest hospital in Israel, national referral
Soroka Medical Center	סורוקה	Beer Sheva	South (Negev)	Only Level-1 trauma in the Negev
Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson)	רבין (בילינסון)	Petach Tikva	Center	Major cardiac and pediatric center

Additional major hospitals:

• Ichilov (Sourasky), Tel Aviv: major ER, central location
• Kaplan, Rehovot: serves southern coastal area
• Ziv, Tzfat: serves upper Galilee
• Wolfson, Holon: southern Tel Aviv metropolitan area

Step 4: ER Process (Chadar Miyun)

When arriving at a hospital ER (chadar miyun, חדר מיון), expect the following process:

Stage	What Happens	Typical Duration
Registration (קבלה)	Present teudat zehut (ID) and kupat cholim card	5-15 minutes
Triage (מיון)	Nurse assesses severity, assigns priority level	5-10 minutes
Waiting	Wait based on triage priority (not arrival order)	30 minutes to several hours
Examination	Doctor examines, may order tests	15-60 minutes
Treatment/Discharge	Treatment given, discharge or admission decision	Varies

Cost information:

• ER copay (ishtalmut): 1,110 NIS (for self-referral without a doctor's referral, per Ministry of Health pricing)
• Copay is waived if the patient is admitted to the hospital
• Copay is waived if referred by MDA ambulance
• Children under 18 and pregnant women may have reduced or waived copays depending on kupat cholim

Triage priority levels:

1. Immediate (red): life-threatening, seen immediately
2. Urgent (orange): serious, seen within 15-30 minutes
3. Less urgent (yellow): stable but needs ER care, may wait 1-2 hours
4. Non-urgent (green): could be seen at clinic, longest wait

Step 5: Terem Urgent Care Clinics

Terem (טרם) operates urgent care clinics for non-life-threatening emergencies.

Terem has 25+ branches across Israel, from Nahariya in the north to Be'er Sheva in the south. Key locations include:

Location	Hours	Notes
Jerusalem (Romema/Sarei Israel)	24/7	Main flagship branch
Jerusalem (Pisgat Ze'ev, Talpiot, Old Katamon)	Varies	Additional Jerusalem branches
Modi'in	Evening/weekend
Be'er Sheva	Evening/weekend
Beit Shemesh	Evening/weekend
Ashdod	Evening/weekend
Carmiel	Evening/weekend

For the full current list of branches and hours, check terem.com or call Terem's information center at 1-599-520-520.

When to use Terem:

• Fractures and sprains (not compound fractures)
• Cuts requiring stitches
• High fever, especially in young children
• Ear and eye infections with acute pain
• Minor burns
• Urinary tract infections

Advantages over hospital ER:

• Shorter wait times (typically under 1 hour)
• Lower cost than ER visit
• X-ray and basic lab services available
• No referral needed
• Accepted by all kupot cholim

Step 6: Patient Rights During Emergencies

Under Israeli law (Patient Rights Law, חוק זכויות החולה), patients have the following rights even during emergencies:

Right	Description
Right to emergency care	No hospital or MDA crew can refuse emergency treatment regardless of payment status
Informed consent (הסכמה מדעת)	Patient must be informed of procedures, risks, and alternatives (except when unconscious)
Right to refuse treatment	Competent adults can refuse treatment, even in emergencies, with documented informed refusal
Privacy (פרטיות)	Medical information is confidential; treatment areas should provide reasonable privacy
Accompaniment (ליווי)	Patient may have a family member present unless medically contraindicated
Medical records (רשומה רפואית)	Patient has right to access their medical records
Language access	Hospitals must provide interpretation services for patients who do not speak Hebrew

Important: If a patient is unconscious or unable to give consent, medical staff may perform life-saving procedures under the emergency exception (pikuach nefesh, פיקוח נפש).

Step 7: Blood Donation Through MDA

MDA Blood Services (שירותי הדם של מד"א) manages Israel's entire blood supply.

Detail	Information
Who can donate	Age 17+, weight over 50 kg, in good health. Ages 17-18 need parental consent. Over 60 (first-time) or over 65 (returning) must donate at permanent MDA stations with family doctor approval.
How often	Every 3 months (whole blood)
Where to donate	MDA blood donation centers, mobile blood drives
Scheduling	Via MDA website or call 101
Time required	Approximately 30-45 minutes total

Key facts:

• MDA supplies 100% of blood products for Israeli hospitals and the IDF
• Israel needs approximately 800 blood donations per day
• Blood types O-negative and B-negative are in constant high demand
• Donors receive a free health screening (blood pressure, hemoglobin, pulse)
• Donation is voluntary and unpaid in Israel

Examples

Example 1: Someone Collapses in the Street

User says: "Someone just collapsed near me and isn't responding. What do I do?"

Actions:

1. Call 101 (MDA) immediately
2. Tell the dispatcher your exact location (street name, landmark, or building)
3. Check if the person is breathing; the dispatcher will guide you through CPR if needed
4. Do not move the person unless they are in immediate danger (fire, traffic)
5. Stay on the line until the ambulance arrives (average response: 8.3 minutes)

Result: MDA dispatches the nearest ambulance. If in a public area, nearby defibrillators (AED) may be available (ask the dispatcher).

Example 2: Child Has a High Fever on Shabbat

User says: "My 3-year-old has a fever of 39.5 and it's Friday night. Where do I go?"

Actions:

1. For a fever of 39.5 in a young child, Terem urgent care is the most appropriate option
2. Locate the nearest Terem clinic (Jerusalem Romema is open 24/7 including Shabbat)
3. Bring the child's teudat zehut and kupat cholim card
4. If the child has difficulty breathing, is lethargic, or has a rash, call 101 instead

Result: Terem can evaluate the child, run basic tests, and prescribe medication. Wait times are typically under 1 hour.

Example 3: Tourist Breaks an Arm

User says: "I'm a tourist in Tel Aviv and I think I broke my arm. What should I do?"

Actions:

1. If the bone is not protruding and bleeding is controlled, go to Terem or a hospital ER
2. In Tel Aviv, Ichilov (Sourasky Medical Center) is centrally located
3. Bring your passport and travel insurance documents
4. ER copay is 1,110 NIS (for self-referral); travel insurance should cover this
5. Hospitals are required to treat you regardless of insurance status

Result: X-ray and treatment at Terem or the hospital. Non-residents may be billed at higher rates, so having travel insurance is important.

Example 4: Locating the Nearest Trauma Center

User says: "There's been a serious car accident near Beer Sheva. Which hospital handles major trauma?"

Actions:

1. Call 101 (MDA). For major trauma, MDA will transport to the nearest Level-1 trauma center
2. In the Beer Sheva area, Soroka Medical Center is the Level-1 trauma center
3. Soroka is the only Level-1 trauma center in the Negev region
4. Do not attempt to transport a severely injured person yourself unless MDA instructs you to

Result: MDA dispatches a Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) staffed by paramedics for major trauma cases.

Bundled Resources

References

• references/hospital-directory.md -- Complete directory of Israeli hospitals by region (North, Center, South, Jerusalem), including all 5 Level-1 trauma centers, emergency department phone numbers, clinical specialties, and pediatric and psychiatric facilities. Consult when a user needs to find the nearest hospital, identify which hospital handles specific specialties, or locate a trauma center.
• references/first-aid-basics.md -- Quick reference for basic first aid procedures (CPR for adults/children/infants, severe bleeding, burns, choking, heatstroke) with Israeli-specific context including desert snake bite response, Mediterranean jellyfish sting treatment, earthquake procedures, and regional heat risks. Consult when a user needs step-by-step first aid instructions or faces a region-specific emergency.

Recommended MCP Servers

MCP	What It Adds
IL Health	Access Israeli Ministry of Health data: hospital quality metrics, patient surveys, and health fund information
Pikud Haoref	Real-time emergency alerts from Home Front Command (rocket alerts, earthquakes, aerial intrusions)
Israel Clinical Trials	Search active clinical trials at Israeli hospitals (Sheba, Hadassah, Ichilov, Rambam)
Israel Drugs	Israel's pharmaceutical database with health basket status, drug interactions, and generic alternatives
Miklat	Find public shelters (miklatim) in Israel by location

Reference Links

Source	URL	What to Check
MDA (Magen David Adom)	https://www.mdais.org/en	Emergency services, blood donation, station locations
Terem Urgent Care	https://www.terem.com/?lang=en	Current branch locations, hours, services
Ministry of Health ER Info	https://www.gov.il/en/service/emergency-room-payment	ER copay amounts and exemption criteria
MDA Blood Donation	https://www.mdais.org/en/blood-donation/who-can-donate	Donation eligibility criteria
Poison Control (Rambam)	https://www.rambam.org.il/en/patient_info/contact_us/	Poison hotline: 04-7771900
Dam.org.il (Blood Donors)	https://www.dam.org.il/en/qa/	Blood donation FAQ and eligibility details

Gotchas

• Agents often default to US emergency numbers (911). Israel uses 101 (MDA), 100 (police), and 102 (fire). The unified number 112 works but is not the primary line.
• ER copay amounts change periodically. Agents may cite outdated figures. As of 2026, the ER copay for self-referral is 1,110 NIS per Ministry of Health pricing, but verify with the specific hospital or kupat cholim.
• Terem urgent care locations and hours change. The Jerusalem Romema branch is 24/7, but other branches have limited evening and weekend hours that agents may not reflect accurately.
• Agents may confuse Israeli triage color codes with international ones. Israel uses a 4-level system (red, orange, yellow, green) that differs from some international 5-level systems.
• Hospital names have multiple forms: agents may not connect "Ichilov" with "Sourasky Medical Center" or "Tel Aviv Medical Center," which are the same institution.

Troubleshooting

Error: "I called 101 but no one answers in English"

Cause: MDA dispatchers primarily speak Hebrew. English availability varies by region and time. Solution: Say "English" or "Anglit" (אנגלית) clearly. If no English-speaking dispatcher is available, try calling 112 (the unified European emergency number), which may route to an English-capable operator. Alternatively, ask a nearby Hebrew speaker to assist with the call.

Error: "The ER is charging me even though I came by ambulance"

Cause: Not all ambulance transports automatically waive the ER copay. The waiver typically applies when MDA determines the transport is medically necessary. Solution: Ask the billing department (mishrad haheshbonot, משרד החשבונות) to verify your case. If MDA transported you and marked the call as an emergency, the copay should be waived. Keep your MDA transport documentation as proof.

Error: "I don't know which kupat cholim I belong to"

Cause: Many residents, especially new immigrants (olim), are unsure of their health fund registration. Solution: Check your kupat cholim membership by calling the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi, ביטוח לאומי) at *6050 or visiting any kupat cholim branch with your teudat zehut. You can also check online through the Ministry of Health website. In an emergency, hospitals will treat you regardless of kupat cholim membership.