October 7th Trauma Lingers for Israeli Trauma Officers
Translated & summarized from Channel 9 by baba
Romi Waldman, an Israeli officer for dealing with casualties, shared her enduring psychological trauma from working in a hospital on October 7th. She described the overwhelming scene of wounded soldiers and civilians, the constant identification of casualties, and the inability to process the events at the time. Three years later, Waldman explained that the extreme stress left a lasting impact, and she believes it's important to recognize the trauma experienced by those who care for others.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli casualty care officer Romi Waldman described lasting psychological trauma from October 7th.
- Waldman worked in a hospital receiving wounded soldiers and civilians after the Hamas attacks.
- She recalled the overwhelming intensity and inability to process the horrific events at the time.
- Three years later, Waldman stated the extreme stress left a part of her in the hospital wards.
- She believes it is important to acknowledge the trauma experienced by those who care for others.
Romi Waldman, a 23-year-old officer specializing in casualty care, described the profound and lasting psychological impact of her experience on October 7th. Waking to sirens that morning, she and her partner were called to duty. While her partner was deployed to the south to fight, Waldman was sent to the "Shiba" hospital, preparing to receive casualties from the Hamas attacks. Despite training, the reality of the situation, with helicopters arriving with wounded soldiers and civilians, was far more horrific than any simulation. Waldman worked tirelessly, moving between stretchers, trying to identify individuals and assess who was alive and who had perished. Her phone constantly rang with requests to check on missing loved ones. The intensity of the day, followed by subsequent days, prevented any immediate reflection. The full realization of the trauma only set in later. Three years on, Waldman states that a part of these officers remained in the hospital wards, a consequence of the extreme stress. She recalls the soldiers they searched for, those who returned, and those who did not, as well as colleagues who shared the unimaginable reality. Waldman emphasized that specialists like herself can also suffer psychological trauma, often appearing strong externally. When asked about their work with casualties, they typically hear it must be difficult, to which Waldman agrees, noting the unforgettable images, conversations carried home, families etched in memory, and wounded individuals who remain in their thoughts long after their shifts end. She also described a sense of guilt, stemming from the fact that the suffering was not personal, not her family losing a loved one or her body being injured, but rather experiencing it solely through her professional role. Waldman believes it is time to acknowledge and remember those whose job it is to remain strong for others. The report is based on materials from Israel Hayom.
