American Friends of Magen David Adom say Israel Defense Forces in dire
need of replacement blood during the current crisis

New York, New York – July 13, 2006 — American Friends of Magen David
Adom (www.afmda.org) announced today that Magen David Adom (MDA),
Israel.s first-aid and emergency response organization, and the State
of Israel are on high blood alert due to the severity of the violence
in the last two weeks. Magen David Adom provides 100% of the blood
donations used to treat soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF),
and 97% of the blood used to treat Israeli citizens, and other victims
being cared for in Israeli hospitals.

American Friends of Magen David Adom is asking for all U.S. citizens
to donate the funding, instead of blood, required to ensure that the
IDF is able to care for all those wounded as the current conflict in
the region escalates. A gun shot wound requires 50 units of
replacement blood; an organ transplant requires 10 units, and a hip
fracture/joint replacement requires 5 units. It costs $36 to produce
one unit of blood. This cost does not include the expense of testing
and cleaning each unit of blood donated for use. It is imperative that
MDA be able to operate at its fullest levels.

.It is critical during this time that we support those victims of the
recent violence,. says Rabbi Daniel Allen, Executive VP of AFMDA. .In
Israel, citizens are lining up to donate blood, but without this
financial support, we risk not being able to process all potential
donations..

The volunteers and medical professionals of MDA must have the tools
they need to operate effectively. One hundred and sixty ambulances
have been dispatched from their emergency shelters all over the
country and driven to the Northern border. Early next week MDA is
training over a hundred volunteers in a crash course. MDA blood
services are collecting twice as many blood units and 70% more teams
are on red alert. MDA is increasing its capacity while Israel must
face two fronts: Northern Galilee and Gaza Strip.
In order to allow MDA in Israel to function and keep its highest
level, it needs you to share the burden, MDA in Israel needs: medical
supplies, blood test kits, telecommunication devices, life saving
vehicles maintenance, increase in staff to work all hours, and so much
more.

Funding can be donated through AFMDA.s website (www.afmda.org), or
through their hotline, at (866) 632-2763.

If you want to send a check:

American Friends of Magen David Adom-ARMDI
National Headquarters
888 Seventh Avenue
Suite 403
New York, NY 10106

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 and is filed under action.