Children Under Five Most Vulnerable to Home Renovation Accidents

The Beterem (Safe Child) organization has issued a warning about the dangers of injuries to children during home construction and renovation projects. Between 2021 and 2026, 278 unintentional injuries to children were recorded nationwide, with 74 occurring within the Arab community. Notably, approximately 60% of Arab children injured in these incidents were under the age of five, highlighting a significant risk for early childhood during such work. The injuries reported include falls from heights like roofs, windows, balconies, and scaffolding, as well as collapses of walls or concrete structures, electrocution, exposure to gas and chemicals, and drowning in paint or water buckets.

Out of the 278 total injuries, 74 were in the Arab community, representing about 26.6% of the total. The data shows 71 injuries between 2021 and 2025, with three more in early 2026. Beterem emphasizes the need for increased awareness and stricter safety measures, particularly in Arab towns undergoing renovations. The organization cautions that its figures may not be exhaustive, as they are based on media reports and may not include incidents that received no media coverage, suggesting the actual number of injuries could be higher.

Children under five are disproportionately affected. Nationwide, 142 children aged 0-4 were injured, accounting for over 51% of all cases. Within the Arab community, 45 children in this age group were injured, making up over 60% of Arab child injuries. Beterem attributes this to the exploratory nature of young children, who lack the awareness of surrounding dangers and the ability to assess risks associated with construction materials, tools, and heights.

Beterem urges parents to implement preventative measures, such as completely separating work areas from children's living spaces. They also recommend keeping tools, chemicals, and water buckets out of reach, installing safety barriers, and securing windows and entrances to hazardous areas. Effective supervision, especially for very young children, is crucial, alongside engineering and safety measures to prevent access to dangerous sites and materials. The organization stresses that renovation and construction work should be treated as a potential hazard, and separation of work zones combined with safety precautions can significantly reduce serious injuries.