A medical emergency in Sullivan County this morning underscored the critical work of Hatzolah’s volunteer responders and the trust they have earned across the community.
On Friday morning, a woman flagged down a Hatzolah volunteer after another woman nearby began feeling faint. The volunteer quickly began medical care and called for additional assistance, including an ambulance and paramedics.
While a paramedic was still responding from about a mile away, a bystander stopped Monticello Police Chief David Lindsay, who happened to be waiting at a traffic light, to complain about emergency vehicles using lights and sirens.
“Why are these people always driving around with lights and sirens? It’s just noise for fun. Why are we allowing this?” the bystander asked, referring to Hatzolah.
Chief Lindsay later described his calm response to the woman. “In my experience, Hatzolah responds to thousands of real emergencies in Sullivan County every year,” he said. “With the most up-to-date equipment and technology, I know they’re for real.”
Lindsay followed the paramedic to the emergency scene out of concern, and said what he saw confirmed Hatzolah’s professionalism.
“When I arrived,” he explained, “I saw a patient — a non-Jewish woman — being treated with the utmost dignity and professionalism by Hatzolah volunteers. This was clearly not a game. This was lifesaving work.”
He added that if he encountered the same bystander again, he would share what he saw: “Hatzolah is out here saving lives, and they do it for everyone, not just their own.”
Hatzolah noted that its members respond to people of all backgrounds, 24/7, whether on holidays, weekends, or in the middle of the night.
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8 Responses
The complaining bystander was obviously an antisemite.
The police officer should have brought her to the scene and asks her if she calls that fun
And why didnt he tell her “Hatzolah is out here saving lives, and they do it for everyone, not just their own.” When she first confronted her
He could have told her that Hatzalah would come for her too, with lights and sirens, even though she hates Jews.
This is a genuine question from a Haredi lady in Eretz Yisroel. Does Hatzola have a written heter from one one of the US gedolim to respond to all emergency calls on Shabbos and Yon Tov without any idea who the victim is?
Sima B; All Hatzola branches operate under the guidance of local Rabonim. Feel free to direct your question to them.
Genuine answer to the Chareidi lady – if rov calls are from 613s, what’s the shaileh?
Another Eiysav ..hates Jews but would call Hatzalah in a minute . So should it be that she needs medical help !!!
i don’t know what the rules are there, but here they are NOT paramedics, and they are not allowed to perform medical procedures. which means they provide very limited first-aid, and need to call the real ambulance service anyways. for serious emergencies, such as cardiac calls, in this community, hatzolah is a waste of precious seconds.