ISRAEL/FILE: New Tel Aviv hospital built with ability to turn its car park into a bomb-proof hospital during times of war

Record ID: 395759

  • Title: ISRAEL/FILE: New Tel Aviv hospital built with ability to turn its car park into a bomb-proof hospital during times of war
  • Date: 11th March 2011
  • Summary: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (MARCH 9, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ICHILOV HOSPITAL, PREPARING FOUR FLOORS OF UNDERGROUND HOSPITALS HOSPITAL BEDS IN WAR-PROOF UNDERGROUND HOSPITAL HOSPITAL BEDS SIGN IN ENGLISH AND HEBREW READING ' SAMMY OFER UNDERGROUND EMERGENCY HOSPITAL' GAS TANK NUMBER DIAL GAUGE VARIOUS OF UNDERGROUND PIPING MORE OF HOSPITAL BEDS MEDIA CREWS (SOUNDBITE
  • Embargoed: 26th March 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel, Lebanon
  • City:
  • Country: Lebanon Israel
  • Topics: Health,Science / Technology
  • Reuters ID: LVADXXIMWLUWQ1HTZ2O7K4RYKXHZ
  • Story Text: A new Israeli hospital can convert its underground car park into a four storey, bomb-proof health facility to operate in time of war. The space is designed to hold almost a thousand beds during emergencies or 1,500 cars during peacetime.
    Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv has a new wing with an innovative ability to perform more than one function. Above ground the contemporary building has nine floors, but the four floors below-ground are designed to transform from car park to hospital during times of war.
    Above ground, the new US$87 million building holds the hospital's cardiology and neurology departments. Below ground it is designed to hold almost a thousand beds or 1500 cars.
    "The rationale for that came during the Second Lebanon War when the threats of missiles, rockets coming on Tel Aviv. And when we were starting to look where to evacuate patients from the upper floors of the hospital we had nowhere to evacuate them. And later on we had discussed with IDF and they say that the next scenario for the next war if God forbid it will come, involve Tel Aviv as a target. And then we had decided that we are going to dedicate the lower floors, the underground floors of this new building to let us have the option to evacuate patients in case of an emergency when there is a threat of rockets on Tel Aviv," Hospital director Gabi Barbash said.
    A 34 day war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006 killed 1,200 people in Lebanon and 160 Israelis.
    Last year, Hezbollah's leader said if Israel were to attack Beirut, they would attack Tel Aviv.
    According to architect, Sharon Arad, the parking levels are fully equipped with electricity junction boxes, gas and water supply, phones and computers, nurse stations and infrastructure for temporary operation.
    "Architecturally, the challenge was to use materials which are easily washed. Because we will have about 48 hours to transform a car park into a sterile hospital. So you need to wash with special materials all the junk that is collected on the walls on the floors and to transform it into a sterile facility," he said.
    The parking levels are also equipped with an air-filtering system to protect patients and staff from chemical and biological attacks, and conventional weapons.
    As well as emergency treatment rooms, the facility includes all the normal departments and hospital functions, including a maternity ward and dialysis machines.
    Similar facilities are planned in three other Israeli hospitals in central or northern Israel.
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