Tips for accident prevention during Independence Day festivities

Keep your family and yourself free from injury this Independence Day.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
Updated: APRIL 26, 2017 01:16
Independence Day ceremony (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Independence Day ceremony
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Medical and rescue services are gearing up to cope with anticipated accidents and other untoward events during celebrations for Remembrance Day and the 69th Independence Day next week.
The full complement of ambulances, mobile intensive care units and other medical and rescue service vehicles will be on hand at public ceremonies, various outdoor and nature sites and the like during the holidays.
Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petah Tikva said that every year at this time, numerous children end up in the emergency room as a result of careless use of fireworks, barbecue equipment, spray foam and noisemakers.
Prof. Yechezkel Weissman, head of the hospital’s emergency department, warned that spray foam typically purchased for the celebrations contain chemicals and should never be aimed at the face and eyes. If one’s eyes do come into contact with the sprays, wash them with water and seek immediate medical treatment.
Keep children away from bonfires and barbecue equipment to avoid burns, especially when the weather is windy and sparks from fires are apt to fly. Wash any burns with cold water and apply a sterile bandage or other clean cloth, and seek medical treatment.
Avoid feeding children under the age of five tough meat on which they could choke. Cut hot dogs lengthwise and not in circles, which could block their airways. Keep hard snacks out of reach of children under five, and make sure children always eat sitting down.
Do not allow children to play with caps, and be careful not to keep caps in one’s pocket as they can suddenly explode. In the event of an accident, wash the injured area with water, cover with a sterile bandage and seek immediate medical care.
Electric bikes, hover boards and other vehicles used by children are increasingly the cause of serious injury. Age and speed limits should be observed, and all riders should wear helmets and knee and elbow protectors.
Magen David Adom has asked the public to donate blood before the holidays. See www.mdais.org for details. keeping with its annual tradition, MDA will collect blood donations in Zichron Ya’acov on Remembrance Day. The blood drive will be held on Sunday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the pedestrian mall’s Hobbit Club, the Nili restaurant and other sites.
Each pint can save the lives of three people, MDA said.