Child Safety Organizations Issue Holiday Safety Guidelines Amid Rising Risks
Ahead of the High Holy Days, the Beterem Center for Child Safety and ZAKA have released updated safety guidelines for families. Data from Beterem reveals that 40 children and teenagers have died from accidents during the High Holy Days over the past decade (2016-2025), with one-third being infants and toddlers aged zero to four.
The guidelines address various holiday scenarios, emphasizing kitchen and dining safety by keeping children away from heat sources and sharp objects, using back burners, and positioning pots and appliances out of reach. They also warn about choking hazards from holiday foods like pomegranate seeds, nuts, and fish, advising to cut food safely and avoid serving hard, sticky items to children under five. Specific advice is given regarding honey cake, recommending against serving it to children under five if it contains whole nuts or nut pieces, and reiterating the Health Ministry's recommendation not to give honey to infants under one due to botulism risk.
When visiting relatives, families are urged to ensure homes are child-proofed, with cleaning supplies and medications secured, and balconies and gates made safe. During Yom Kippur, despite quieter roads, parents must remain vigilant about children playing outside. For Sukkot, safety measures during construction and decoration of the sukkah include keeping children away from tools and supervising them with craft supplies. Electrical and fire safety in the sukkah are also stressed, advising against makeshift electrical connections and unattended candles, and recommending a fire extinguisher.
The guidelines also cover safe outings during Chol HaMoed Sukkot, advising families to plan trips according to Home Front Command instructions, choose routes suitable for all family members, and be prepared with adequate water and food. They warn against straying from marked paths, lifting large stones, and swimming in unauthorized areas, emphasizing constant, active supervision near water. When barbecuing or having bonfires, designated areas should be used and fires fully extinguished. For water activities, a responsible parent must be designated at all times, maintaining close, distraction-free supervision.
Travel safety includes ensuring all children are properly secured in car seats, never leaving a child alone in a vehicle, and establishing a habit to prevent hot car deaths. Accommodation safety involves checking that pools are fenced with self-locking gates and securing doors to balconies or yards in hotels or rentals. Orly Silbinger, CEO of Beterem, stated that holiday periods increase the risk of child accidents and urged parents to be proactive and vigilant. Moti Buchchin, ZAKA spokesperson, noted that the familiarity of holiday environments can lead to complacency, making extra attention to children and their surroundings crucial.
