Guidelines for a holiday filled with happiness, not hurt

Every year the ambulance and firstaid organization gets calls to treat or evacuate those hurt while building an outdoor succa booth.

OCTOBER 13, 2016 23:41

CHILDREN JOIN President Reuven Rivlin in decorating a succa at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem yesterday (photo credit: MARC NEYMAN/GPO) — CHILDREN JOIN President Reuven Rivlin in decorating a succa at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem yesterday

(photo credit: MARC NEYMAN/GPO)

After having to cope with a large number of accidents and tragedies over Yom Kippur, Magen David Adom is now trying to prevent the public from getting hurt before and during the weeklong Feast of Tabernacles – Succot – that starts on Sunday night.

Every year the ambulance and firstaid organization gets calls to treat or evacuate those hurt while building an outdoor succa booth. Adults and children fall from ladders, and even balconies; get electrocuted from live wires; are injured by hammers, nails, screws and wooden boards, along with getting injured in other preventable accidents.

To prevent injury and save lives, MDA recommends these safety guidelines: • In the event of a fall, call MDA at 101 immediately and do not move the victim.

• All electrical wires and outlets should be checked carefully to make sure they are intact, and action should be taken to cover them in case of rain during the holiday.

• When hanging decorations for the succa, especially on balconies, make sure that railings, chairs and ladders are steady. Do not let children do this without an adult’s close supervision.

• Never leave lit candles in the succa without supervision. It is best not to light candles in the succa at all.

• Markets for selling the Four Species used during the holiday are usually adjacent to busy streets in the center of cities in towns; always supervise children to make sure they don’t run into the street or get lost in the crowd.

Since many families will go on trips during the holiday, MDA medics and their equipment will be out in force in nature and entertainment areas, and at large public events. Hundreds of thousands of people will be on vacation and traveling around the country.

• Make sure to take along plenty of water – at least three liters per person – and to drink often to avoid dehydration.

• Wear light, long-sleeved full-length clothing, high-topped shoes, and stay away from snakes and scorpions by never moving rocks.

• Never wear sandals when trekking.

• Use sunscreens to reduce the risk of sunburn and don’t trek during the hottest, sunniest hours.

• Always travel at least in pairs.

• Never leave children or pets in the car for even a moment.

• Take a first-aid kit with you.

• Always supervise children at the beach or pool.

• Avoid using a cellphone while driving.

Even playing with the radio while behind the wheel is dangerous.