EVP volunteers are needed with a wide variety of background and skills. Volunteers are divided into two general types: EVP Responders and the EVP Auxiliary.
EVP Responders are those who meet deployment requirements and are interested in going to Israel in times of emergency. The EVP Auxiliary is for those who are either unable or unwilling to deploy to Israel in times of emergency.
All qualified individuals who are willing to serve as an EVP volunteer and who meet the standards and criteria for acceptance may apply for EVP membership by submitting a completed application to the designated official.
Following review and application approval, the volunteer will be provided a Personal Profile Page on the EVP web site.
Volunteers will be entitled to full participation in EVP programs, training at regional centers and in Israel, community activities, fund raising, EVP services, additional on-line educational and training resources, and information updates available only to EVP members.
An individual who has successfully completed all training and examinations, has been certified as a firefighter and who is certified by their State to work in this profession. Firefighters will be assigned to a specific fire service station in Israel and will operate according to the orders by the Israeli Fire Service officers. Professional firefighters with a minimum of two years working experience are preferred. All others will be evaluated on an individual basis upon request.
Depending on the level of education and certification, medical service personnel could work in a variety of capacities such as hospitals or assisting emergency responders. All will be evaluated on an individual basis upon request. Doctors and PA’s: orthopods, anethesiologists, ICU, trauma, surgery (especially thoracic), opthomalogists, plastic surgery, ER, internal medicine. Nurses: ER, OR, ICU, pediatric and NICU, recovery room, and maternity. Paramedics: active filed paramedics with a minimum of 2 years of field experience.
A community service volunteer is one who is not certified either in firefighting or medical services. Their main focus is to assist at emergency supply depots, deliver food, water or aid packages or other similar duties. Community volunteers provide general support as directed by Field Commanders or EVP. This could include general community support or support to specific categories (e.g., Fire, Medical) for which additional training will be provided. Volunteers who successfully complete all EVP training will be certified as EVP volunteers in their area of expertise and will be assigned to a local/regional deployment team.
The EVP Auxiliary teams are for those who may not meet the requirements as responders, or for those who may not want to deploy to Israel in times of emergency. The EVP Auxiliary provides an opportunity for those volunteers to assist with team deployment logistics and coordination, fund raising, public speaking, and more. The EVP Auxiliary is a team of people who will provide the necessary logistics support and coordination from their home area in the US.
All prospective volunteers must follow the application process listed below.
Once accepted, the candidate will be assigned to an EVP chapter and provided with all of the services and benefits of EVP membership.
Responders will be assigned to an emergency deployment unit for their preferred deployment wave (immediate, second wave deployment or successive waves). EVP Auxiliary volunteers will be assigned to a unit based on their expertise and location.
Volunteers will be placed in a specific unit under a regional commander and local team leader. If officers and team leaders have not been appointed, the volunteer will be assigned to the Director of Volunteers until the appointment of officers and/or commanders has been completed.
Each volunteer will also be evaluated by the Director of Volunteers, or a designate, to assess their suitability for various command and/or administrative functions. Those volunteers wishing to be considered for leadership positions should make this known to the Director of Volunteers or their chapter leadership.
All volunteers must meet/complete the following requirements in order to become and remain an active EVP volunteer. Each requirement is explained further below. Each volunteer must:
All deployed volunteers (responders) must be between the age of 20 and 60. Exceptions to this rule are possible upon presentation of a special request in writing and supporting documentation as required by EVP. EVP Auxiliary volunteers may be older than 60, and may not have to meet all of the medical and training requirements listed above since these are non-deployed volunteer positions.
Due to the physical nature of most of the work in Israel and the stress that can be experienced while deployed under difficult and possibly dangerous conditions, all volunteers must be in good health and be able to operate effectively in an emergency environment involving potentially disturbing sights and events. Volunteers must be capable of operating under pressure for extended periods of time, be able to perform the duties for which they have been trained, and work, if necessary, under difficult physical conditions. Responders will be required to complete, sign and submit a medical evaluation form and provide a medical doctor’s statement that the responder is able to meet the physical demands of a deployed environment.
Any responder who desires to function in a capacity related to a professional certification or training will need to provide a copy of all current, active and applicable certifications necessary to operate in that discipline. This includes medical personnel, firefighters, tecnical rescue personnel, social and psychological professionals and any volunteer with professional skills or training certifications required for their profession.
Volunteers must also certify that their qualifications are current and active and they have the authority and ability to practice in their specific profession. Any change in certification validity must be reported to EVP within 72 hours of receipt of notification.
A letter of recommendation from their direct supervisor and a letter confirming that all certifications are valid and have not been revoked for any reason is also needed. Certain professions may have additional certification requirements.
All responders who deploy to Israel must be certified by the Israeli Goverment and EVP, which means they have completed all required training, hold valid certification(s) according to their professional status, and are ready for deployment.
A certified responder is defined as one who has, over the period of one year, completed the following requirements:
In order to train the responder for their tasks in Israel, EVP with the Israeli Goverment emergency departments, has implemented requirements for multiple levels of training. Training certifications held at a higher level than required supersede lower skill requirements (e.g., basic first aid is not required for those who hold EMT, paramedic, etc. certifications).
This training will teach volunteers the acceptable standards of personal and operational readiness in Israel and to acquaint them with new or revised protocols and/or procedures. Training will be conducted by teams of EVP certified instructors from the US and Israel held in state or municipality-recognized emergency training centers with the emergency equipment necessary for effective training, plus simulation facilities in some cases. Training will consist of classroom lectures, practical exercises, and drills on various scenarios. Volunteers will develop/maintain deployment readiness and allow EVP to assess volunteer readiness for future deployment.
The trainings include breakout sessions for each area of service and the specific content is determined by EVP operational staff in Israel depending on potential scenarios and identified needs of the volunteer force.
Emergency alert or activation will occur at the direction the appropriate Israeli governmental body (Government Ministry, Fire Service, IDF, or other authorized body). Once an alert notification or activation order is received, Senior EVP staff will authorize an increase of the EVP alert level. Senior EVP officials also have the authority to order the initiation of the predefined procedures and actions required and to activate the US Situation Room.
When a nationwide alert has been issued, senior EVP staff will determine the appropriate alert level and which service teams will be notified. All activation procedures will follow the predefined protocols and procedures. Once an emergency situation has diminished to the point that responders can be released (return to nominal conditions), the original organization issuing the alert has the authority to reduce the alert level.
IT WAS 4:00 AM, THANKSGIVING MORNING.
MY PHONE VIBRATED ON THE NIGHT STAND AND THE TEXT READ 'WE’RE DEPLOYING TO ISRAEL-- LEAVING IN 6 HOURS. I LEANED OVER TO KISS MY FIANCÉE GOODBYE AND LEFT FOR THE LONG FLIGHT FROM LAX TO BEN GURION AIRPORT.
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