Tens of thousands of Israelis took part in National Defibrillator Day this week, an initiative led by Magen David Adom in collaboration with Mifal HaPais (Israel’s national lottery), the Federation of Local Authorities and the Friends of MDA organizations.
As part of the initiative, MDA volunteers set up more than 500 training stations across the country on Monday to instruct members of the public in the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
As part of this year’s campaign, 35,000 participants learned how to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest, locate and operate a nearby AED, and call MDA’s 101 emergency hotline for assistance. The initiative extended beyond public training stations, with educational sessions in high schools led by MDA youth volunteers in coordination with the Israeli Education Ministry and workplace training programs conducted by MDA teams.
Additionally, MDA, in partnership with Mifal HaPais and local authorities, has installed approximately 1,500 smart defibrillator stations across Israel in high-traffic areas, including synagogues, parks and lottery kiosks. These efforts are complemented by an ongoing national campaign encouraging the registration of AEDs in MDA’s National Defibrillator Database, which maps out all AEDs across the country to ensure first responders and members of the public can quickly locate the nearest device in the case of an emergency.
Cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in Israel, with survival rates as low as 7%. However, a high availability of AEDs in public spaces 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.
“We have installed thousands of defibrillators across Israel, and we will continue expanding their availability across public spaces, residential buildings, and communities,” said MDA director-general Eli Bin. “Additionally, thousands of MDA first responders—both volunteers and staff—carry AEDs in their private vehicles and emergency motorcycles, ensuring life-saving intervention wherever needed. I want to thank our partners at Mifal HaPais and all those who have joined us in this vital mission to save lives.”
