With Lag B’Omer’s pilgrimage to Meron approaching, Magen David Adom (MDA), alongside Israel Police and Fire & Rescue Services, will conduct two large-scale drills on Monday night and Tuesday afternoon to prepare for potential mass-casualty incidents. The exercises, led by the police, will simulate scenarios like terror attacks, rocket fire, crowd stampedes, and road closures, following the 2021 tragedy where 45 people R”L died in a stampede. Dozens of MDA paramedics, doctors, EMTs, and volunteers will participate, using ambulances, motorcycles, ATVs, a mobile ICU bus, field clinics, and a helicopter. For the event starting Thursday night, MDA’s Northern District will deploy hundreds of staff and volunteers across the site, including a women’s treatment tent, with teams on duty through Sunday evening to serve the expected hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. “As Israel’s national emergency medical service, MDA has secured Meron for decades,” said Gil Moskowitz, MDA Deputy Director of Operations. “We’ve done site visits, planning sessions, and built a detailed medical response plan. These drills are critical for our readiness.” MDA urges the public to follow police and organizer instructions, avoid overcrowding, and prioritize safety to ensure everyone ensure everyone returns home safely. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)