We’ve all heard of the life-saving work done by Hatzalah in New York and Eretz Yisrael. Now, Baltimore has its own organization. Hatzalah of Baltimore, established in 2005 under the guidance of our rabbanim, went operational this past December in a small area of our neighborhood. Now, it has expanded, and with the assistance of the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD), Hatzalah can  provide immediate emergency medical care anywhere in our Northwest Baltimore community.

Why do we need another emergency service?

Because of one basic fact: The most important factor in life-threatening medical situations, it has been conclusively proven, is early emergency care. According to the American Heart Association, for example, each minute that passes before a cardiac arrest victim receives defibrillation means a 7 to 10 percent reduction in that patient’s chances of survival, resulting in a pre-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate of less than 10 percent.

The goal of Hatzalah is to increase the chances of each patient’s survival by having a rapid response team available around the clock. The role of Hatzalah volunteers is to stabilize the patient until help from the Baltimore City Fire Department arrives. At that point, Hatzalah volunteers will transfer patient care, yet stand ready to offer assistance, until the emergency has passed or the patient has been transported by Baltimore EMS personnel.

View the Hatzalah of Baltimore statistics.

Maryland Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System Affiliation

Hatzalah of Baltimore is affiliated with the Maryland Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System, a coordinated statewide network that includes volunteer and career EMS providers, medical and nursing personnel, communications, transportation systems, trauma and specialty care centers and emergency departments. The Emergency Medical Resources Center (EMRC), a part of MIEMSS, coordinates medical consultation between medic units and hospital physicians.

Learn more about Hatzalah of Baltimore -- read our Frequently Asked Questions page.