About Ido Pinkas

Ido works as a scientist for the Weizmann Institute of Science and lives with his wife and three children in Rechovot.  Despite his demanding career, Ido felt strongly he wanted to contribute to the local community. United Hatzalah fit his criteria, and since becoming a volunteer medic a totally new dimension has been added to his life.  In addition to “cracking the secrets of the universe” in the laboratory, Ido’s lifesaving missions amongst the residents of Rechovot have given him a sense of fulfillment that he had otherwise not known.  The following story clearly illustrates why.

One Shabbat morning, Ido responded to a call regarding an unconscious person not far from his home.  He found a hysterical family beside a young man, possibly still in his teens, lying unconscious on his bed.  The experienced medic quickly began CPR on the pulseless boy as his family looked on in sheer terror.  An ambulance crew arrived and joined the rescue effort.  Unfortunately, after a prolonged and difficult CPR, the ambulance paramedic had no choice but cease all lifesaving efforts.  The family was devastated and Ido stayed for quite some time to comfort the shocked and bereaved relatives.

A few weeks later, Ido received another call at the exact same address regarding a man with chest pains.  This time it was the father of the young man who had just passed away.  As Ido and another medic were taking vital signs, the man suddenly collapsed with no pulse.  The medics launched into CPR and fought with an intensity they had never known.  The thought that this family might suffer two tragedies in one month spurred them on.  Sweat lined their foreheads as they administered the intense chest compressions combined with two shocks from the defibrillator.  The second shock did the trick, and the man’s pulse returned.  A few minutes later he woke up and was rushed to the hospital where he underwent emergency bypass surgery, which thankfully was successful.