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.
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