The Division for People with Developmental Disabilities at the Ministry of Social Affairs attributes great importance to the provision of medical aid, in both routine and emergency situations for people with intellectual disabilities
The Division’s management guideline requires that during all activities and in all provided services, there should be a qualified person with a valid first aid certificate.
In addition, the 2007 law placing automated CPR devices in public places states that all service centers need a life-saving defibrillation device. It was therefore decided to equip all day centers with this life-saving device and to train the staff to use it. Accelerating this decision was the fact that coronary heart disease is one of the main causes of death in Israel and the Western world, and people with developmental disabilities are more predisposed to these conditions and diseases.

The Shalem Foundation joined this important initiative and funded first aid courses and defibrillator purchases of approximately 150 facilities across the country