Students Applied Tourniquets After Deadly Blast During School Trip

Paramedics and EMTs arriving at the scene of an explosion during a school trip described harrowing scenes, including students applying tourniquets to their friends and prolonged resuscitation efforts for a 14-year-old boy who died. The incident occurred during an annual trip for the Orot Ma'alot religious high school in the Upper Galilee's Ramim Ridge.

According to Magen David Adom (MDA), two 14-year-old boys were seriously injured, ten people sustained moderate injuries, and twelve others had minor injuries. All were evacuated to Ziv Medical Center, Rambam Health Care Campus, and the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya.

David Radko, an MDA EMT who was the first on the scene, found injured students scattered along the path, some trying to help their friends. He noted that despite the difficult circumstances, students actively assisted, with some applying tourniquets to stop bleeding. "Every one tried to help his friend as best he could," Radko stated, adding that he provided instructions which they followed.

Paramedic Osama Massoud described the panic and chaos, detailing the unsuccessful resuscitation efforts for the deceased teenager. He also mentioned treating two 14-year-old boys injured by shrapnel. Paramedic Orly Ben Simon corroborated the intense resuscitation attempts on the critically injured student.

MDA's Jordan region director, Itzik Shushan, confirmed a large-scale emergency response involving ambulances, intensive care units, and helicopters. The IDF estimates the explosion was caused by a cluster munition shell fired by Hezbollah during the war that remained unexploded. Initial findings suggest a student found the unexploded ordnance during the trip, picked it up, and placed it in his bag, leading to the detonation shortly thereafter.