On September 2, Chaim Rafalowski, disaster management coordinator for Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical service, visited the humanitarian park of the Taiwan Red Cross, accompanied by officials from the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei. The meeting centered on disaster preparedness, volunteer training, and emergency response.

In welcoming remarks, Taiwan Red Cross President Wei-Ta Pan praised MDA’s international reputation for emergency medicine and rapid response, while highlighting his organization’s deep investment in community-based disaster risk reduction and volunteer training. Though the two institutions operate in different domains, President Pan underscored their shared reliance on volunteers, noting that “by exchanging experiences, we can generate valuable insights.”

Rafalowski, on his first official visit to the Taiwan Red Cross, called it an honor to represent MDA. “The only way to strengthen the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and deepen our commitment to communities is through sharing and learning,” he said. He emphasized that mass earthquake preparedness has become a priority for both the Israeli government and MDA, and expressed interest in Taiwan’s approaches to community resilience and large-scale disaster management.

Taiwan Red Cross Secretary General Ning-Pal Kao outlined the organization’s work, from disaster-preparedness training programs and youth volunteer initiatives to recent relief operations following the April 3 Hualien earthquake and southern Taiwan windstorms. Education and training, Kao stressed, are “key to building resilient communities,” enabling volunteers to serve as the first line of defense when disasters strike.

Responding to President Pan, Rafalowski noted that volunteers are also at the heart of MDA’s system. Retention and reintegration, he said, are critical, with MDA maintaining ties with former volunteers to ensure a sustainable workforce. He also described MDA’s distinctive motorcycle paramedic units, which can bypass traffic to deliver life-saving care during the “golden hour” of emergencies.

Because MDA is also responsible for Israel’s national blood supply, Rafalowski explained, the organization must operate a highly flexible blood management system to meet surging demands during crises or conflict. Beyond emergency care, MDA promotes public education by making first aid training compulsory in secondary schools—an initiative that equips young people with vital skills and sustains the organization’s volunteer pipeline.

The discussion also touched on the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). While mobile apps and mapping tools are increasingly common, Rafalowski cautioned against over-reliance on technology, warning that delays or disputes could cost lives. In cases of cardiac arrest, he stressed, the fastest and most effective step remains calling professional emergency services to coordinate immediate action.

Both sides agreed on the importance of continued exchanges and voiced hopes for future cooperation to bolster capacity and meet growing humanitarian needs worldwide.

Background: Magen David Adom serves as Israel’s national emergency medical and disaster response agency, overseeing ambulance dispatch, first aid training, and the blood bank system. Operating in one of the world’s most complex and high-pressure security environments, MDA has developed rapid, adaptable, and integrated response models—whether for daily emergencies, wartime casualties, or natural disasters. In June 2006, MDA was formally recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and became a full member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).