17 employees of the The Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya, near Tiberias in northern Israel have graduated a firefighting course which has now turned them into a well rounded first response team serving the Lake Kinneret area.
The first respondents were picked from a variety of hospital sectors to undergo special training at the Tiberias fire station. They received training in putting out fires, recognizing and handling dangerous materials, and scanning for and evacuating victims. The group passed a test at the end of the training.
According to Alex Shalmanzon, the Safety Officer at the Medical Center, the special crew will enhance the hospital’s ability to offer first response at a fire event and be able to effect an organized handing over control of the scene once the firefighters arrive on the scene.
Administrative Director Shimon Sabah praised the hospital employees who volunt
eered to undergo the special training, to boost the area’s readiness in times of an emergency.