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US Ambassador Dan Shapiro visited the United (Ichud) Hatzalah headquarters to pay tribute to their emergency response work and their lifesaving technology. The organization in turn dedicated an ambucycle in Ambassador Shapiro’s name, to honor his services to the Israeli people and the US government’s essential support in the development of the Iron Dome system.

The Ambassador took a tour of the United Hatzalah dispatch center, where emergency calls are received, and fielded out to the nearest and most qualified volunteers via United Hatzalah’s GPS Lifecompass technology. It is also the central control station of the organization’s SOS smartphone app, developed in response to the abduction and murder of the three Israeli teenagers.

Ambassador Shapiro took a seat on one of United Hatzalah’s hundreds of lifesaving ambucycles, similar to the one dedicated in his name. He was also presented with a silver miniature of the vehicle. These ambucycles are driven by United Hatzalah’s 2,300 volunteers, who leave their daily lives at second’s notice to respond to nearby emergencies from mobile alerts. Always arriving within minutes from the initial call of distress, they bridge the gap between emergency and ambulance arrival.

Ambassador Daniel Shapiro said: “Everyone in Israel recognizes these ambucycles, which represent Tikun Olam and saving lives. These are values which both United Hatzalah and the US share, and we will support your organization in whatever way possible. I applaud your efforts to take the United Hatzalah model overseas – in America we will be happy to continue to learn from you and work together to save lives. Thank you for this great honor.”

United Hatzalah President Eli Beer said: “I would like to thank Daniel Shapiro, along with the President of the United States, and the American people, for all your help in these past years. During Operation Protective Edge United Hatzalah treated 850 people daily – almost 200 people more than it did during peacetime. This number would have been higher if it had not been for the support of the United States and their help to develop the Iron Dome that prevented thousands of casualties. It is only appropriate that we dedicate this lifesaving ambucycle in appreciation of our American friends who helped save lives in Israel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)