Etzion Rescue Squad A fully voluntary unit. Formed originally by the Gush Etzion Regional Councils security department to deal with Field and Vertical Search and Rescue (SAR),Road Crash Vehicle Extrication and Earthquake Rescue. A few of the members of the unit live in Efrat. The unit is one of the nine official rescue units operating in Israel under the Israeli Police and is also an official member of F.I.R.S.T Fast Israeli Rescue and Search Team)(http://www.israaid.org.il/member_page.asp?id=6)

Members of the unit are on call 24/365 and have the authorization, training, tools and equipment to deal with a broad variety of search and rescue scenarios (Vertical rope rescue, cave rescue, EMS and advance search techniques). Geographically the unit is officially responsible for the area from the cliffs of the Judean Desert (over looking the Dead Sea) to the Bet Shemesh and Shfelat Yehuda area (Beit Guvrin – Lachish area).

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