Campfires of 300 m2 in Omer and the intense heat may pose a danger • Read the safety rules and act responsibly

In preparation for the holiday of Omer and in the light of the heavy heat and the easing of the Corona restrictions, the MDA requests to maintain the safety guidelines

In preparation for the celebrations of the Feast of Omer, during which bonfires are expected to be lit all over the country, alongside the warming weather and the reduction of the Corona restrictions in the public space - the MDA is on high alert and publishes safety instructions.
 
On Magan David Adom, preparations are being made for the tens of thousands of bonfires that will be lit across the country on the eve of the 29rd of Omer (4/21/XNUMX).

Many MDA forces are on wide alert and will provide an immediate medical response to any need that may arise in the field. MDA stations throughout the country will be reinforced with medics, paramedics, ambulances, intensive care vehicles and MDA motorcycles - in order to provide a medical response to emergency calls regarding burns , injuries, breathing difficulties, dehydration, heat stroke, etc. MDA wishes to remind the general public that the corona crisis is still here and therefore wishes to act more carefully and responsibly and follow the instructions of the Ministry of Health.

CEO of MDA, Eli Bin: 

As every year, Magen David Adom teams treat many unfortunate injuries, most of which are among children and young people who drive carelessly in an area that includes nails, fire and smoke. We call on all revelers and revelers - take care and take care of your friends and families in order to pass the holiday in peace and health. The MDA family wishes all of Beit Israel a happy Lag Baumer.

The MDA warns of the dangers in Lag B'Omer, including collecting planks, lighting bonfires and staying around burning bonfires.

Guidelines when collecting boards:

• Do not pick up boards with nails and protruding objects that could injure you.
• Do not enter deserted fields for fear of snakes.
• Do not enter construction sites for fear of falls, injuries and cuts.
• When crossing a road with the collected boards they may block the field of vision. One must make sure to cross the roads with utmost care, and of course only at crosswalks.

Building a campfire? pay attention:

• Make sure an adult accompanies the bonfire to prevent injuries.
• The location of the bonfire must be determined in an area free of thorns and weeds, and at a safe distance from buildings and facilities.
• Do not light a fire under electricity and telephone lines, near trees and bushes or fuel facilities.
• Ensure a safe distance from neighboring bonfires.
• The boards should not be placed at a height, because they may fall when they ignite and cause injuries.
• It is recommended to fence the fire with stones so that the fire does not spread, the stones will also form a barrier for children to enter the dangerous area.
• Lighting fires in groves and forests is prohibited, except in places marked as designated for this purpose.
• It is recommended to wear high shoes and wear long pants and a suitable shirt to protect the body from embers and embers, as well as the bites of reptiles and vermin that are attracted to the heat of the fire.
• You must have a cell phone and it is recommended to install the "My MDA" application on the cell phone, which enables quick dialing to the MDA call center and through which the MDA medics and paramedics can get the exact location of the person in need of help.
• It is recommended to have a standard MDA first aid kit.
• In the event of a fire spreading, call the fire department immediately by calling 102.
• During the burning of wood in bonfires, high concentrations of respirable particles, which are the most dangerous to human health, are emitted into the air, as well as large amounts of carbon dioxide, the cause of global warming. In order to reduce air pollution, the MDA recommends combining bonfires and avoiding burning plastic materials.

During the bonfire:

• An adult must be appointed who will be responsible for lighting the fire and watch over the children.
• Any flammable material must be kept away from the fire, and it is absolutely forbidden to keep fuel tanks, gas tanks or any other flammable material near the fire.
• Lighting the bonfire will be done with a suitable torch and will be done by an adult, while maintaining safety.
• It is strictly forbidden to throw spray cans, firecrackers, or projectiles into a burning campfire, which may explode and injure those sitting around the campfire.
• Adding wood and planks to the fire pit will be done with the utmost care by an adult.
• Do not splash fuel or liquid kindling on the burning fire. This action is very dangerous and may cause immediate harm to children and adults in the campfire area.
• Children should be kept away from the source of the fire in order to prevent burns. Children should not be left unattended even for a moment.
• If your clothes catch fire, stop and don't run! Lie on the ground and roll over several times. A blanket or large towel can be used to wrap the victim and "smother" the fire. Care must be taken to leave the victim's head uncovered in order to prevent suffocation.
• Do not sleep in closed sleeping bags near a fire, for fear of a fire trap.
• In the event of a burn, cool the place with lukewarm running water, call the MDA on the emergency phone number 101, or use the "My MDA" application, listen to the instructions of the medics and paramedics at the call center, until the MDA forces arrive at the scene.

Sitting around the fire? Observe the safety rules:

• Sessions and activities for children must be carried out at a sufficient distance from the campfire, and not from the surrounding area.
• It is recommended to thread the potatoes and onions on a wire thread when putting them in and taking them out of the fire is done by an adult. Before serving them to children, make sure they are not too hot to eat. Hot potatoes and onions can cause severe burns in the mouth.

At the end of the bonfire or komzitz:

• It is necessary to make sure that the campfire and the whispering coals are completely extinguished, by pouring sand or water.
• If possible, the hot coals should be transferred to a coal collection facility.

First aid rules in case of fire injury:

1. If a person's clothes catch fire, lay him on the ground and roll him in dirt or put out the fire with plenty of water. It is also possible to suffocate the fire by covering the victim with a wet blanket, or a large towel while the victim's head remains exposed, in order to prevent suffocation.
2. Do not remove or tear off charred clothing stuck to the burn area. In the event of a burn in a certain area of ​​the body, immediately cool the place with running water, or place cold, moist (preferably sterile) pads on the burn. You can also use cloth handkerchiefs or clothes.
3. Do not puncture blisters and do not remove skin. Also, do not apply ointments or various other substances to the burn.
4. If possible, jewelry should be removed from the injured person.
5. In case of splashing in the eye, it is recommended to wash the eye thoroughly with plenty of running water.
6. It is recommended to wear closed shoes and to wear long pants and shirts with sleeves, to protect the body from stings and coals as well as the bites of various reptiles and creepers that are attracted to the light and heat of the fire.
7. Due to the unusual air pollution from the thick smoke, the MDA recommends that the elderly, pregnant women, heart patients, patients with lung diseases (asthma, COPD or respiratory problems) and also toddlers stay in houses with closed windows. 
8. One should avoid keeping alcoholic beverages near the fire, or God forbid throwing them into the fire, for fear of igniting. In addition, you should avoid throwing containers, cans and bottles into the fire that could explode and cause a lot of damage.