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

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

Arbel’s father, Assi, warned against using the toy. According to him, his son did not trigger the caps, which ignited on their own. The incident happened last week during a routine get-together with friends. One of the boys brought caps and suggested setting them off. Two of the boys activated the caps, and Arbel was holding several of them in his hand.

“He was startled by the explosion of his friends and clenched his hand very tightly,” the father said. “That probably caused a heat reaction that ignited one of the caps. Once one ignited, all the caps in his hand ignited one after another very quickly, really like a firework. His whole hand was burning.”

Arbel threw the caps from his hand and ran home in distress, where his 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, including cooling and washing the area. He will need follow-up care and rehabilitation treatments.

Dr. Hadas Yechiam, a senior physician in the pediatric emergency medicine department, explained that “in cases of injury caused by an explosion, it is important to make sure no damage was done 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. Treatment included controlled removal of the damaged skin layer and advanced dressings.

Dr. Biadar Bilal, deputy director of the plastic surgery department, said the boy will need follow-up and rehabilitation treatments to preserve full function of the hand.

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

Arbel’s father asked to pass on a message to other parents: “In this case, our son was just standing nearby, and yet he was the one 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 only standing by and watching can be injured by a spark or ignition. Keep the children safe.”