Stories From the Streets: Stabbed EMT Back on the Job

Eiad Azem is a United Hatzalah volunteer from Tayibe, an Arab city in central Israel, and deputy head of the team there. He is a giving person who is always willing to help others. Azem continues to volunteer and respond to emergencies despite having been attacked himself during a violent incident that took place toward the end of December 2020.

That day there was an intense argument between some of his neighbors in Tayibe, and he ran over to break up the fight. It was three men against one, and Azem jumped between them. He had no weapons or protective gear. Before he could stop the fight, he was stabbed twice, once in his shoulder and once in his left arm. Azem managed to fend off the three men, and they ran away. His neighbor took him to the hospital, where his deep wounds were stitched up and he received fluids and medications.

After a month and a half of rehab, he was finally able to return to work and continue to volunteer at United Hatzalah. “Thank God I am OK,” Azem says. “The incident definitely tested my strength, but now after I have healed, I feel stronger and even more passionate about helping others. It is amazing to be able to go back out there and respond to emergencies.”

On a recent Wednesday evening, a 20-year-old male pedestrian was hit by a passing truck at the northern intersection in Tayibe, and Azem once again rushed to help.

Azem was with his wife at the time of the accident, getting his phone fixed in a store two minutes’ drive from the scene. As soon as he was alerted to the emergency, he ran out of the store and got into their car. Traffic slowed them down a little, so it took them five minutes to arrive at the intersection.

At the scene two local ambulances, along with a paramedic and additional EMTs had arrived. Azem joined them, and the combined team began treating the man, who lay unconscious on the asphalt. Azem recognized the man as a friend from the neighborhood. 

It was a chaotic scene, with friends and family members of the man all crowded around in the middle of the busy intersection and worried for his well-being. Adding even more chaos was that it had just started to rain, making the road wet, slippery, and dangerous. Azem concluded the scene was too dangerous to treat the patient on the street and advised the paramedic to transfer the man into the ambulance so he could be treated in a safe environment.

Azem helped the paramedic bring the patient inside and then, being a licensed ambulance driver, took the wheel and started to the nearest hospital. Suddenly the man woke up and, being disoriented, became wild and violent. Azem stopped the ambulance and climbed into the back to help the paramedic. The patient was quickly sedated so he couldn’t harm himself in all the confusion. Azem and the paramedic immobilized the man’s spine and neck and intubated him while providing him with oxygen. Azem climbed back into the driver’s seat and continued to the hospital, where the man was quickly admitted to the trauma center for further care and treatment.

“I’m proud to be a part of United Hatzalah,” says Azem. “Many of my family members also volunteer, including my wife. We even learned in a course together and completed our training together. It was a great experience for both of us.

“Being first responders is something our whole family takes pride in and enjoys doing. I am happy I am able to do it again… Saving lives and helping people is important to me, and it is something I share with my entire family.” 

Raphael Poch is the international media spokesperson for United Hatzalah.