Ensure a safe Hanukka

Safety authorities urge parents to keep a close eye on children during Hanukka to avoid burns from lit candles and boiling oil.

Menora (photo credit: Wikicommons)
Menora
(photo credit: Wikicommons)
Ahead of the eight-day festival of lights, Hanukka, that began on Saturday night, safety authorities urged parents to keep a close eye on children to avoid burns from lit candles and boiling oil.
Beterem, the National Center for Child Safety and Health, said the holiday sees a rise in accidents and children under the age of five are at the highest risk.
Beterem director Orly Silbinger said that up to the age of nine, children should light candles only with help from adults. Matches should be kept out of children’s reach.
Other safety guidelines include: Youngsters can participate in the preparation of doughnuts and fried potato pancakes, but not in the frying.
Always put pans on the back burners so children cannot reach handles or the pans themselves.
Instead of children playing with candles, they may be given small electric flashlights instead.
Never put the lit menorah on a tablecloth or other object that can be pulled down by young children.
Keep curtains and other flammable objects far from candles.
Never leave the house with candles unsupervised.