Paramedics treat over 2,300 people on Yom Kippur

Magen David Adom paramedics had their work cut out for them during Yom Kippur, treating 2,326 people throughout the Day of Atonement.

As in every year, Israeli cyclers took advantage of the empty roads, filling the streets in droves on Monday and Tuesday. But as in every year, injuries were not far behind, with MDA treating 220 for cycling-related crashes.

Another 249 people were treated for weakness and fainting spells due to the fast, which includes a ban on drinking water; 11 required resuscitation.

Three people were killed and two injured in a car accident near Dimona. Another 20 were injured in vehicular accidents and 20 in violent incidents.

Medics also treated 136 women in labor and took them to hospital.

Magen David Adom had deployed hundreds of extra medics, paramedics, ambulances and volunteers throughout the country in anticipation of an influx of emergency situations.

“Thousands of people suffer on the fast from dehydration, fainting and road accidents,” MDA Director Eli Bin said before the fast. Bin said he had ordered the organization onto its highest level of alert.

Almost all public services shut down in Israel over the 25-hour fast and most roads are deserted. However, in past years there have been instances of some ultra-Orthodox Jews throwing stones at those vehicles that do drive on Yom Kippur.