FAQ
What is Hatzoloh
Hatzoloh is an international network of volunteer ambulance services established in 1965 to provide pre-hospital emergency medical care with cultural and religious sensitivity. As a dedicated organization, our aim is to respond quickly and compassionately to all medical emergencies, regardless of race or creed.
How did Hatzoloh Antwerp begin?
Hatzoloh Antwerp began in 1999 with a small team of volunteer responders and dispatchers. Since then, Hatzoloh Antwerp has grown to include 20 volunteer responders and over 10 volunteer dispatchers, providing 24-hour service, 7 days a week. Hatzoloh Antwerp is the dedicated emergency response team in the Diamond area.
Why does Antwerp need Hatzoloh?
Because our volunteers are members of the community, they have a unique perception and understanding of the needs of Antwerp's Jewish community. This includes knowledge of Jewish law, as well as the ability to converse with elderly immigrant patients in their native tongue. In addition, many patients, typically Holocaust survivors, will not readily access the EMS system. They will however be more comfortable asking members of their community for help.
How is Hatzoloh able to respond so quickly?
Our volunteer responders are a group of dedicated individuals who have a tremendous concern for the well-being of the people of their community. They are professionals, salespeople, business owners or lay people who live and work in the communities that we service. When an emergency arises, they stop whatever they are doing in order to help others.
What are our responders’ qualifications?
Hatzoloh volunteers are trained to respond to any medical emergency. Hatzoloh responds any time of day or night, Shabbos and Yom Tov.
Each member participates in hundreds of classroom hours and took exams to graduate as a qualified EMT.
Hatzoloh members are all volunteers that besides setting aside their time to respond to emergencies, must participate in hundreds of training hours of continued education every year.
What kind of equipment do responders carry?
In addition to a two way radio and jackets, each volunteer is equipped with a medical kit as is found on any ambulance. This would include basic life support and airway equipment, oxygen tank & accessories, basic diagnostic equipment, and trauma supplies as well. Thanks to the generous support of the community, each responder now has a semi-automatic external defibrillator with them at all times.
Each member also rides with their own ambucycle which enables us to reduce response time and arrive as fast as possible.