13-Year-Old Arbel Injured by Caps He Was Holding: 'They Ignited on Their Own, Like a Sparkler'

Arbel, a 13-year-old from Kfar Yona, was injured in his hand after caps he was holding ignited and exploded. He was taken to hospital with second-degree burns and was hospitalized for two days.

Arbel's father, Adi, warned against using the toy. According to him, his son did not activate the caps, which ignited on their own. The incident occurred last week during a routine gathering with friends. One of the boys brought caps and suggested setting them off. Two of the boys activated the caps, and Arbel held several of them in his hand.

"He was startled by the explosion from his friends and clenched his hand very tightly," the father said. "That apparently caused a heat reaction that ignited one of the caps. Once one lit up, all the caps he was holding ignited one after another very quickly, just like a sparkler. His whole hand was on fire."

Arbel threw the caps from his hand and ran home in panic, where the family washed his hand with water and applied ointment. After blisters began to appear, they went to Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba. In the emergency room, Arbel received initial treatment that included cooling and washing the area. He will need follow-up and rehabilitation treatments.

At the hospital, Dr. Hadass Yechiam, a senior physician in the pediatric emergency department, explained that "in cases of injury caused by an explosion, it is important to make sure there is no damage beyond the burn itself. Therefore, we carried out imaging tests and a thorough assessment of the tendons, nerves and blood vessels in the hand."

The hospital said that thanks to the thick structure of the skin on the palm, the injury did not penetrate deeper layers and at this stage it does not appear that Arbel will need surgery. The treatment included controlled removal of the damaged skin layer and advanced dressings.

Dr. Biader Bilal, deputy head of the plastic surgery department, noted that the boy will need follow-up and rehabilitation treatments to preserve full function of the hand.

As the summer vacation approaches, the medical team is calling for greater awareness of the dangers posed by explosive devices. "Every year we treat children and teenagers who come to the department because of burns," said Tova Meshali, the head nurse in the pediatric surgery department. "This is an opportunity for all of us to talk with children about safety rules and increase awareness of possible dangers."

Arbel's father asked to convey a message to other parents: "In this case, our son was standing to the side, and yet he was the one who was injured. He was not playing with the caps, only holding them in his hand. It is important to make clear that even someone who is just standing to the side and watching can be injured by a spark or by ignition. Keep the children safe."