Stories From the Streets: Responding to a Terror Attack

On a recent afternoon, United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Aviad Hertz was working from home when he heard pistol shots in the distance. He did not know whether they were from a nearby shooting range or if it was something potentially life-threatening. Ten seconds later Hertz received an alert from United Hatzalah’s dispatch and had his answer: A terrorist had fired from close range at two soldiers standing guard at the Porsa Junction before fleeing on foot. 

Hertz immediately raced outside to his ambucycle and bolted to the scene of the emergency. He arrived two minutes after he heard the gunshots, just as combat teams secured the area. “When I get to the sites of terror attacks, I work as quickly as I can while making sure the area is safe and clear,” he says. “In this particular incident, miraculously the only injury was a minor flesh wound as the bullet grazed the head of one of the IDF soldiers. I found the victim and quickly got to work.” 

Hertz started with stemming the blood from the injury to the victim’s head, then expertly bandaged the wound and conducted a field neurological exam.

“After stabilizing the victim, I took his vitals and spoke with the young soldier to give him comfort,” Hertz says. “I provided emotional first aid to help him and the other soldiers who had witnessed their friend being shot process the trauma they had just lived through. When the ambulance arrived I prepared the injured soldier for transport to the Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer.”

This year alone there have been many terror attacks near Hertz’s house. “Unfortunately I’m used to getting calls and being dispatched to terror attacks,” he explains. “Thankfully most attacks end with the victims returning to their regular lives after a long period of rehabilitation.”

Being dispatched to multiple terror attacks is frightening, but Hertz never hesitates. “I’m always happy to be able to help people,” he concludes, “and being in the right place at the right time and getting to the scene as quickly as possible certainly helps in many cases.” 

Deena Horenstein is doing her national service as a media volunteer with United Hatzalah in Israel. She hopes to start college in the fall.