Millions of Israeli students will soon begin summer vacation, with middle school and high school students going out this coming weekend and the rest of the education system joining them at the end of the month. As family outings and holidays increase, rescue teams are preparing for a possible rise in drownings, heat injuries and accidents. Magen David Adom published safety guidance for beaches, roads, home and hikes.
At the beach and in pools, MDA says to swim only in declared sites with lifeguards and to stay within the lifeguard’s sight at all times. It warns against dangerous games such as dunking others and head-first jumps into shallow water, and says parents must supervise babies and young children continuously because drowning can happen in seconds. Floatation devices do not provide full protection. Children should also be protected from the sun, and private pools should be fenced and any access gates closed.
In cars and on the road, children and toddlers must never be left alone, even briefly, because of the risk of heatstroke and dehydration. Parents should use appropriate child seats, activate child locks, keep drinking water available, and place a personal item near the child to avoid forgetting them. Seat-belt buckles can become very hot, and drivers are urged to slow down and drive extra carefully near children and pedestrians.
At home, toddlers need constant supervision, windows and doors should be locked to prevent falls, and cleaning products and dangerous materials must be kept out of reach. Young children should be kept away from water sources and small toys that could be swallowed, and any choking emergency should be reported immediately to MDA at 101. Families should also make sure children drink enough water.
On hikes, families should stay protected from the sun, carry plenty of water, remain together, avoid thick vegetation and moving rocks because of snake bites, and not disturb wild animals. If a snakebite occurs, the guidance says not to suck out the venom, not to move the victim, and to call MDA at once. Hikers should sleep only in organized sites, close tent zippers, shake out shoes before wearing them, and shorten routes so they are not on the trail after dark. MDA said it is preparing for every call and urged the public to use the emergency number 101 or the "MDA My App" for any injury or medical emergency, adding that rescue vehicles will operate in reinforced numbers throughout the summer.
