Magen David Adom and Israel Railways have begun installing defibrillators, for the first time, on more than 150 passenger trains across the country. The initiative, set to be completed in the coming weeks, aims to enhance emergency-response capabilities and save more lives in the event of cardiac issues during train journeys.
The partnership has already equipped all 67 active train stations with the life-saving devices.
This move comes ahead of proposed legislation mandating defibrillators on trains. In recent years, their availability, coupled with staff training, has saved dozens of lives. Station managers, shift supervisors, security staff and train inspectors undergo specialized training to use the devices when needed.
Cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in Israel, with survival rates as low as 7%. A high availability of AEDs in public spaces, however, can drastically improve the chances of survival. Among out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, 70% occur in private homes, 12% in establishments and 18% in public areas.
Meanwhile, 37% of initial interventions using defibrillators are conducted by bystanders with no formal medical training.
The collaboration has extended beyond equipment installation to include joint emergency drills, crew training, blood-donation drives and other initiatives focused on public safety. During the war against Hamas in Gaza, for example, emergency exercises were conducted to prepare for the evacuation of the wounded by train.
In addition to defibrillators, every passenger train in Israel is equipped with first-aid kits, including EpiPen syringes for allergic reactions.
