(PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

According to United Hatzalah officials, as of 8:15 Thursday morning, United Hatzalah volunteer first responders have treated 211 people in Meron since yesterday morning as a result of a variety of injuries including; contusions, dehydration, falls from heights, snake bites and scorpion stings, fainting, lacerations, and other medical conditions.

It was pointed out that due to the hot weather during the days before Lag B’Omer, scorpions came out and there were many more scorpion bites among visitors to Meron than usual.

Eli Beer President and Founder of United Hatzalah said: “Our volunteers in the field have been proving their dedication year in and year out during the festivities here and this year is no different. It is due to their commitment to helping others that we succeed each year in providing emergency medical coverage for this event. We sincerely hope that this year passes like last year without any extreme cases or emergencies. I want to thank the Israeli police and fire department as well as all of the other organizations involved in organizing and safeguarding this event who we are working in complete partnership with, as well as the Minister and Department of the Upkeep of Holy Places in Israel. Your efforts have allowed our volunteers to operate with the highest level of efficiency to date to help protect the celebrants.”

Beer continued: “We recommend to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who have come here to Meron that if they see a medical emergency occur or they know of someone who needs medical assistance in or around the compound of the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, to please call our emergency number 1221 for immediate medical assistance. Our 600 volunteers from across the country are patrolling the entire town of Meron and the compound and provide the fastest medical response in the area. In light of the tragedies that have occurred in previous years, we recommend that people only travel to and from Meron using public transportation.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)