Join the 'Ohel': A Five-Minute Test Can Save Lives

Today (Wednesday), the 'Health Ohel' by United Hatzalah will be operating at the Harel Insurance complex in Ramat Gan from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The CEO of United Hatzalah: "We want to convey the message to the public that a five-minute series of tests can save lives."

In August 2010, Shai Samar collapsed at his home in Beit Shemesh. He had a cardiac arrest. Moshe Teitelbaum, then a volunteer medic with United Hatzalah and now the organization's CEO, was the first to arrive. "When I got there, Shai was without a pulse and not breathing. We administered several electrical shocks, and his pulse returned immediately." "The medics from United Hatzalah saved my life," says Samar emotionally. After his recovery, Samar returned to his work as an analyst at Harel Insurance and maintained contact with Teitelbaum.

United Hatzalah (Photo: Miriam Alster / Flash 90)

In order to promote the importance of life-saving in Israel, the two decided to spearhead the 'Health Ohel', a joint initiative of United Hatzalah and Harel Insurance that helps maintain public health in Israel for the fourth year now.

"Approximately 2,000 people are tested in the 'Ohel' every year. Volunteer medical professionals from United Hatzalah invite passersby to enter the Ohel and undergo a short series of metric tests to identify high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, and other indicators of chronic diseases. In previous years, we found that some of those tested, who believed their health was fine, were surprised to learn their test results indicated abnormal metrics. We recommended those individuals continue testing with their family doctor," says Teitelbaum.

Samar and Teitelbaum urge everyone to undergo the short series of tests, which take about five minutes and help prevent the development of dangerous diseases like high blood pressure, known as the 'silent killer', which can cause heart attack, aneurysm, or kidney disease.