(Momenteel alleen beschikbaar in het Engels.)

PLEASE NOTE IF THERE IS ANY POSSIBILITY OF A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION, CALL THE
HATZOLOH EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER 03/289.00.00

During an emergency, and especially on Shabbos, some people have a tendency to search for a Hatzoloh member they are familiar with by going to their home, shul, or calling them on the phone. This can result in significant delays in obtaining help and is strongly discouraged. Calling the Hatzoloh emergency number is the most reliable way to obtain help quickly.

WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY?

Childbirth
Emergency childbirth is generally the result of inadequate advance planning and/or poor judgment on when to proceed to the hospital. Advance planning includes: Knowing in advance who will take you to the hospital (or having the phone numbers to several car services handy along with some cash), who will watch the other children (if any) when you go, packing up a bag with some necessities etc. All this should be done several weeks before the anticipated due date.
Knowing when to leave to the hospital is a little more difficult and every case needs to be judged individually. As a general guideline, some experts recommend waiting until contractions are around 10 minutes apart (5 minutes for a first time mother) and each contraction lasts around 45 seconds or more. Discuss this with your obstetrician in advance.

Guidelines for a Shabbos Birth
1. When a woman reaches her ninth month of pregnancy, she should prepare accordingly to minimize the Chillul of Shabbos (desecrating the Sabbath). A suitcase with all necessary items needed for Shabbos (food, nightgown, siddur, etc.) should be prepared before Shabbos
2. It is most preferable to utilize the services of a non-Jew to transport a pregnant woman to the hospital. Should you pay a non-Jewish taxi service or car service so that no money needs to be transferred. If this is not feasible and you cannot pay them after Shabbos or Yom Tov, you should prepare an envelope with money in that the driver can take from inside the house. If this is not possible, you may carry the envelope with a Shinui (e.g. under the hat or in a shoe)
3. In order to place a call to the Non-Jewish cab service, knock the receiver off it cradle with a Shinui (i.e. your elbow) Dial the number by pressing the Keyboard with your knuckles or pinky. Place the receiver back on the cradle with a Shinui, i.e. using two hands, in the event that a doctor or car service may need to call back.
4. Care should be taken that the doors of the car are opened and closed by a non-Jew.
5. The husband or another family member(s) should accompany the woman giving birth if she feels it will ease her tension and comfort her with their presence.
6. On Shabbos in areas with the Eruv or on Yom Tov, anyone may take a suitcase with whatever may be needed for the expectant mother. Outside the Eruv, a gentile should be used to carry the suitcase with all necessary items to and from the car. When not provided by the hospital, the husbands Tallis, Siddur, wine and Challah should also be placed in the suitcase and taken by the gentile.
7. If the woman comes to the hospital and has false labor and there are no provisions for her in the hospital (i.e. she is not being admitted and no food) she should be driven home by a non-Jew. Her husband and/or companion, who came with her, should go back as well if she feels that she needs their presence and support.
8. In the event of an anticipated complicated birth, unusual history, a distant hospital, or if the situation becomes precarious (i.e. the contractions come exceedingly fast), Hatzoloh should be called at once.
9. Should there be a need to drop off children by a relative or friend (i.e. if no arrangements were made prior to Shabbos, see #1) the non Jewish driver may drop them off on the way to the hospital)

High fever
Fever itself is generally NOT dangerous! The amount of temperature required to hurt the human brain is over 41 F. (Seizures due to fever can occur in the age range of 4 months to 6 years, but is most often associated with an abrupt rise in temperature, rather than an extremely high fever.)
On the other hand, while fever is not dangerous, it is a sign of infection, and there are some infections that are dangerous. Always consult your physician if you suspect a serious illness.
Temperature can be brought down by taking Perdolan or Junifen and sponging with lukewarm water (cold water is not recommended). Alcohol should not be used, since there is a small risk of alcohol poisoning.
If the fever is accompanied by serious symptoms such as seizures (not shivering or chills), a change in mental status, difficulties breathing etc. call Hatzoloh immediately.

Burns
Minor burns that are smaller than the size of the patient's palm rarely pose any immediate danger. After applying cold water or a cool compress (to stop the burning process and sooth pain) one should consult a physician and follow his advice. (Failure to do so could lead to eventual complications, such as infection and/or scarring.) For more serious burns call Hatzoloh and cool the burn while awaiting their arrival. Particularly dangerous are burns that involve smoke inhalation, interfere with breathing, involve more than 10% of the body or completely surround the circumference of any part of the body.
Electrical Burns are an exception to the rule of the size of the burn. Most electrical burns will be much smaller than the palm of the hand but can be serious and/or fatal. Immediate medial attention is required and Hatzoloh should be called. DO NOT touch the patient if he/she is still in contact with a live wire. You are a conductor as well and will suffer injury by transferring the electrical current to your self. Rather try to separate the patient from the electric current by either kicking the electrical wire away with a wooden broom or other material that will not transfer the current.

NOTE: A common cause of burns is excessively hot tap water. Check that the thermostat on your hot water boiler is set at 51 degrees or lower. Higher temperature settings (or the "very hot" setting on some models) can result in serious or fatal burns ch"v.

Orthopedic injuries
Orthopedic injuries include sprains (ligament injury), strains (muscle/tendon injury), fractures and dislocations. Severe injuries which result in angulated, deformed or unstable limbs require splinting by trained personnel to prevent additional injury and expeditious transport to an appropriate medical facility. The vast majority of orthopedic injuries do not require ambulance transport. Call your physician for guidance as to whether to schedule an office visit or go directly to an emergency room. Rest, ice and elevation are generally indicated and Advil or Motrin may be helpful to control pain and swelling. Consult your physician.

Lacerations (cuts)
The first concern is to control any bleeding, if present. This is usually easy to accomplish by applying direct pressure to the wound with a gauze pad, clean towel, or even directly with your hand if nothing else is available. Removing the pressure every few seconds to check if the bleeding has stopped is the best way to ensure that it continues indefinitely. Instead maintain the pressure for 5-10 minutes. If the wound is on an extremity, elevating that extremity may also be helpful.
For minor cuts, wash gently with mild soap and water. If the wound is deep or gaping, or if scarring is a concern, consult your physician for possible suturing or referral to a plastic surgeon.

Proper procedure in case of a death on Shabbos
1. Although in a case of a life-threatening emergency or a safek one is obligated to call Hatzoloh, after it has been determined that a person has already passed away, there is absolutely no heter to make such a call. Regardless of what concerns or issues one might have regarding kovod hames, any call by a Jew is a desecration of Shabbos.
2. In the event of a death in a house, a member of the family, a neighbor or friend should consult the Rabbi and/or Chevra Kaddisha regarding proper Shabbos procedure in dealing a niftar, or how to move the niftar etc.
3. Absolutely no preparations for a Funeral may be made on Shabbos even through the services of a non-Jew. Additionally, no family members should be contacted to inform them of the petirah.
4. The Chevra kadisha in Antwerp has a answering machine that is checked Motzei Shabbos, if you are in hospital outside of Antwerp, the hospital staff may call and leave a messageon the machine. Please understand and explain to the hospital staff that the Chevra kadisha will only arrive after sundown Saturday night.