Rejoicing in the shadow of war: Keep children safe during Purim events

Ahead of Purim, which starts on Sunday night in Jerusalem and Saturday night everywhere else, the Israel Institution for Occupational Safety and Health (IIOSH) has published a list of safety guidelines for parents.

• Refrain from using firecrackers, explosives, pyrotechnic materials, rockets, and fireworks. The use of detonating firecrackers by children is extremely dangerous and also illegal. In the past, those attempting to use them have suffered severe injuries, and many children are rushed to hospital emergency rooms before and during Purim.

• Buy costumes only if they have been approved by the Standards Institution of Israel (Mati) and marked as compliant on the label attached to it. The label should include manufacturer and importer details and clear warning instructions in Hebrew such as: “Tested according to Israeli Standard 562. Keep away from fire. It is important to know that washing a costume removes its fire resistance.”

• When making your costume, avoid using flammable materials such as synthetic fabric, paper, cardboard, cotton wool, and plastic sheets. If the costume is heavy, consider replacing some components with lightweight materials or dispersing the costume’s weight more evenly and conveniently. It is recommended to limit the weight of a costume to no more than 25% of a person’s weight.

• Ensure that masks do not obstruct vision, allow free breathing, and don’t interfere with movement. Do not cross roads with a mask so that you can maintain a wide field of vision.

Avoid costumes with ropes, cords, and strings longer than 20 centimeters so they don’t entangle around the neck and cause choking.

• Make sure that body and face painting is done only with makeup colors that don’t block skin pores and don’t cause allergic reactions upon contact.

• For costumes worn by toddlers, make sure that they don’t include small accessories that can detach and be swallowed. Accessories like swords, knives, and the like should be made of soft materials that can’t injure the users.

GENERAL BEHAVIOR guidelines for Purim events

• When organizing a Purim event, consider the expected number of participants and allocate a sufficiently large space to prevent dangerous overcrowding – and facilitate access, and entry into a protected area.

• Don’t hang decorations on lights and electrical accessories.

• Ensure clear and marked escape routes. Don’t block passages or lock doors.

• Provide suitable fire extinguishing equipment such as extinguishing blankets, and more.

• Make sure you have first-aid equipment on hand and people trained in first-aid nearby.

LABOR AND Social Affairs Minister Yoav Ben Zur said that “this year, we celebrate the Purim holiday in the shadow of war – joy mingled with sorrow – a time when our hearts and thoughts are with the soldiers who sacrifice themselves on the front lines for the security of Israel, and our captives who are still held by Hamas. We all hope for better days ahead.”

IIOSH Director-General Dr. Miki Winkler concluded that “protecting children, youth, and workers from potential danger during Purim events should be a top priority. Parents must be vigilant and educate both themselves and their children about the various risks associated with the holiday.”