The name Hatzolah comes from the Hebrew word “Lehatsil”, meaning, “To save”.
Hatzolah provides a free Emergency Medical Responder service for Melbourne’s Jewish community. Hatzalah operates primarily within the suburbs of East St Kilda, Balaclava, Caulfield, Caulfield North, Caulfield South, Elsternwick, Elwood, Ripponlea and St Kilda.
Hatzolah responds to any medical emergency – from a fall, to a chest pain, to a car accident – just call the Hatzolah emergency number 9527 5111.
Hatzolah’s operations are funded fully by donations from the community.
Hatzolah currently has 26 voluntary Responders who have undertaken training programs that include the following:
• Level Two First Aid;
• First Responder Program that included Semi Automatic Defibrillation Accreditation and Oxygen Therapy;
• Ongoing and refresher training; and
• A number of Hatzolah Responders are qualified to administer Anginine, Ventolin and Penthrane.
Hatzolah Responders are reaccredited on their defibrillators every six months, and currently respond to an average of three emergency calls per day.
Hatzolah is funded entirely by beneficiaries within its target community. Hatzolah has never received any government funding.