MDA warns summering yeshiva boys to take care hiking

Magen David Adom warns young haredi men, families of dangers resulting from inexperience at camping, climbing, swimming.

By JUDY SIEGEL ITZKOVITCH
Religious students 311 (photo credit: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)
Religious students 311
(photo credit: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)
The three-week recess of yeshivot between Tisha Be’av and the beginning of the month of Elul (bein hazmanim) has begun, exposing haredi and even national religious young men – and their families – to dangers resulting from their inexperience at camping out, climbing and even swimming. There are usually many injuries and some deaths in this sector during this annual summer vacation.
Magen David Adom warned them on Wednesday to take special care so their annual vacation would be safe. Since haredi yeshiva heads often discourage their students from going to nature areas so as not to be tempted by “immodest surroundings” often increases the danger because it leaves them unable to deal with outdoor experiences that other Israelis take for granted.
MDA urged the sector not to get close to wadis, unmarked trails or other risky locations where they may be hurt. Hikes require taking sufficient amounts of water with them (three liters per person) and should only be attempted when the temperatures cool down in the late afternoon (but not at night).
They shouldn’t bathe in unmarked natural pools of water or on beaches without a lifeguard.
Yeshiva students often try to swim in unsupervised sites because they are alone and and not in contact with women.
Vacationers should not hike during the hottest hours of the day. Babies and young children must have hats, water bottles and sunscreen to help protect them from sunburn.
Babies and young children should never be left alone in vehicles even when windows are left open, says MDA, as they heat up at great speed.
A child left unsupervised can get heatstroke and be at risk of death. Children must drink water regularly during travels in a vehicle as they can become dehydrated even with the air conditioner on.
Every car seat must be covered with cloth to prevent children’s skin from being burned from contact with hot plastic or leather. Youngsters must also be shaded so they don’t get sunburn from UV rays that filter through the windows.
Never allow children to go into a body of water – even a shallow stream – without an adult’s supervision, but even adults with little experience can drown with a child.
Make sure that no child leaves the house or other location without being accompanied by an adult. They must not cross streets alone or even play outdoors near the home without an adult being close by.
MDA urged the public to call its emergency number, 101, if anyone has been hurt or is in trouble.