Paramedics treat over 1,700 people on Yom Kippur, help deliver 7 babies

First responders called to help 174 women in labor during fast, provide treatment to 228 cyclists, skateboarders, and rollerbladers

By ToI Staff 19 September 2018, 8:09 pm Edit

Israelis ride their bicycles along the empty Ayalon highway in Tel Aviv, on Yom Kippur, September 19, 2018 (Miriam Alster/Flash 90)
Israelis ride their bicycles along the empty road in Jerusalem on Yom Kippur, September 19, 2018 (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
Israelis ride their bicycles along the empty Ayalon highway in Tel Aviv, on Yom Kippur, September 19, 2018 (Miriam Alster/Flash 90)
Israeli security forces escort a group of religious Jews, as they visit the Temple Mount on Yom Kippur, September 19, 2018. (Sliman Khader/Flash90)
Israelis ride their bicycles along the empty Ayalon highway in Tel Aviv, on Yom Kippur, September 19, 2018 (Miriam Alster/Flash 90)
Israelis ride their bicycles along empty roads in Tel Aviv, on Yom Kippur, September 19, 2018 (Miriam Alster/Flash 90)

Paramedics from the Magen David Adom ambulance service treated over 1,700 Israelis over Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement and the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, which began Tuesday at sundown and ended Wednesday evening.

Like every year, secular Israelis took advantage of the deserted roads and highways, filling the streets in droves over the holiday, which is marked by a 25-hour fast and intense prayer by religious Jews. But, like every year, injuries were not far behind, with MDA treating a total of 1,728 people, including 268 people who fainted, dehydrated, or felt ill due to the fast.

According to a spokesperson from MDA, 228 people were injured and needed first aid due to injuries from cycling, rollerblading, scooters, and skateboards, including two children aged 9 and 7 who were moderately injured.

There were 35 people injured in road accidents, including one seriously and one moderately.

MDA said paramedics were called to treat 174 women in labor and helped seven women deliver babies.

For paramedics, Yom Kippur is one of the busiest days of the year with hundreds of extra medics, paramedics, ambulances, and volunteers deployed across the country.