Photo: Moti Kimchi
Israel in haze, day 3: Hospitals struggle with number of patients
Safed notes decrease of patients arriving with breathing problems, Jerusalem sees increase of child patients after days of haze.
The massive Middle East sandstorm that has severely polluted Israel's air continued for a third day on Thursday and has left hospitals across the country feeling the effects of the heavy haze.
Hundreds of people have been admitted to hospitals across the country since the storm swept over Israel, mostly with respiratory problems.
Tel Aviv polluted by sand. (Photo: Moti Kimchi)
At Ziv Medical Center in Safed, the number of patients requiring care as a result of the storm had decreased on Thursday, but didn't stop all together.
"I suppose people have gotten more disciplined and stayed inside, or all of those with lung problems are already here," said Dr. Yosef Navia, manager of the emergency room. "We've treated more than 70 people here, some of whom were in serious condition; I don't remember such a load since I've been here."
Photo: Moti Kimchi
Dozens of the sandstorm patients are still hospitalized in Safed and two still require respirators in the ICU.
"This isn't a simple incident," said Yigal Tobias, 70, a patient with chronic lung disease. "It's scary; you just don't breathe. I'm afraid of death, deathly afraid," he said with half a smile.
At Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem however, doctors have noted an increase in the number of children that require care due to the haze.
"Some of the children have a history of asthma," explained Dr. Oded Poznanski, manager of children's emergency care.
"Whoever we aren't able to stabilize in the emergency room gets hospitalized."
