FAQ / When to Call Hatzolah

Click here to download a quick guide explaining when to call for an ambulance.

Hatzolah should only be called in a medical emergency where the patient's life or limb are potentially in immediate danger. Hatzolah will respond, stabilise the patient and transfer them to hospital. It will be appreciated that to send out highly trained medics with hundreds of thousands of rands worth of emergency medical equipment to something which is not a dire emergency or to someone who could just as easily have been put in the car and taken to hospital is not an appropriate use of resources. Hatzolah is not to be used simply as a convenience. It will also be appreciated that calling out an ambulance when it is not truly required may jeopardise the life of someone else who requires that ambulance urgently at that time.

No - like all emergency medical response services, Hatzolah does not treat patients at home unless that treatment is required prior to hospital transportation. Hatzolah also does not do medical checkups, for this you need to take the patient to your GP or local hospital.

No - These transfers are where the patient needs to be moved but cannot be moved by car and needs an ambulance to move them. These transfers are almost always not time critical and therefore not emergencies. As Hatzolah focuses on emergency medical response, Hatzolah will only do these type of transfers during weekdays and only if the ambulances are not busy on real emergencies.

Call our dispatch line for further information.

Yes - but because all of Hatzolah's responders and dispatchers are strictly Shomrey Shabbos, they will only come out in life threating situations. For other situations on Shabbos you will be referred to another ambulance service if you require. Hatzolah dispatchers are trained on what they can and can't dispatch on Shabbos and Yom Tov so if you are in doubt call the emergency line.

Hatzolah responds to emergencies within the Greater Glenhazel area and selected surrounding areas, from the western border of Edenvale, to Rosebank, and from the Northern border of the Johannesburg CBD to the Marlboro area. We also cover Sandton and Gallo Manor, as well as Greenside, Emmerentia and Victory Park.

Hatzolah has around 50 volunteer medical personal and the way Hatzolah operates is that at any given time there is hopefully a volunteer fully equipped and close by to be able to assist until the ambulance arrives on scene to transport the patient to hospital.

No - the directors are all volunteers for the organisation.

No - there is no charge, Hatzolah's funding comes through the generosity of the Jewish Community.
click here to DONATE

Registering is quick and easy. Once completed, you will be able to make direct donations, send e-cards and more: Manage your very own recipient address books to keep track of all your friends, colleagues and loved ones. View your e-card sending history. Print invoices and 18A tax certificates for your bookkeeping. Join our voluntary bloodbank programme. Provide us with your medical history which our medics can instantly retrieve in the case of an emergency We keep your information private and secure, to service your needs only. Donate at your convenience online 24/7, 365 with no fuss!