Safe Lag BaOmer
Lighting bonfires on Lag BaOmer can be an exciting experience for boys and girls, starting with collecting wood together with friends and parents to the bonfire itself, with its campfire baked potatoes. But the holiday and the bonfires can be dangerous for the children. Every year on Lag BaOmer, many children end up in the emergency room due to accidents and burns that can be prevented if we follow several rules of preparing and lighting the bonfire. Make sure that there is an adult present to supervise the bonfire, from the stage in which you collect the wood, to the setting up of the bonfire, and finally the putting out of the bonfire.
Collecting wood
- Collect wood during the day, when there is full light outside, before dusk. If you see the sky becoming darker and stars appearing – it is time to go home and continue the next day.
- Look for wood that is easy to reach and accessible: if you need to climb to a significant height – skip it. Avoid entering construction sites and dangerous places to look there.
- Check the wood before picking it up to make sure it is smooth. Be careful when doing so since the wood may have nails or other protrusions or splinters that may cause injury. If you notice that the wood is not smooth and has nails and the like, do not take it.
- Carefully pick up any wood off the ground to make sure that there are no dangerous animals, such as snakes or scorpions, hiding below. If you arrive at a site and see various types of reptiles crawling around, move away from the site. Avoid approaching the area.
Safety guidelines during the bonfire
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Presence of adults during the bonfire is necessary!
At any bonfire and at any age, from the lighting of a bonfire and until the fire is extinguished, children must not be left unattended even for a moment. In addition to supervision, demonstrate parental responsibility and make sure that you have brought all safety measures (which we will discuss in detail) to the bonfire site, including measures to safely extinguish the bonfire as well as cold water and ointment to treat burns, in case you need it.
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The bonfire site
- The bonfire should only be lit in an area free of thorns, weeds and electricity cables, at a safe distance from other bonfires and only at a site approved by the local authority.
- Avoid lighting a bonfire under power lines and telephone lines, near trees, bushes or fuel facilities.
- To keep participants safe during the occasion, set stones to create a safety barrier for the bonfire. Make sure that the participants do not cross the barrier to avoid burns that may be caused by getting too close to it.
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Size of the bonfire
Relatively small bonfires are preferable since a fire that is too big can cause a loss of control over the fire and even a disaster.
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What to wear to a bonfire
Before lighting the bonfire, make sure that all participants wear appropriate clothing, including closed high-topped shoes, a long-sleeved shirt and long pants to protect the skin from embers and sparks, as well as from bites of reptiles and pests that are drawn to the bonfire.
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When lighting the bonfire
Make sure that no one throws objects or flammable or combustible materials into the fire.
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Around the bonfire
If you choose to organize activities for children in the bonfire area, maintain a safe distance from the bonfire itself. Avoid holding the activity too close to the fire. If you bring drinks and refreshments, place them at a safe distance from the bonfire.
Precautions for a safe bonfire
- Keep fire extinguishing devices on hand near the fire: sand, water or other fire extinguishing means, which you can use in case the fire spreads.
- Keep a mobile phone on you so that you can call the Fire Department or an ambulance if necessary.
- Have a first aid kit on hand and bring it with you to the bonfire site.
- Keep flammable materials away from the bonfire. Never place fuel or gas tanks near a fire.
- Make sure that only an adult places the potatoes and onions on and off the fire (for your own safety: put them on a wire or skewer).
- Before you serve any food to children, make sure that the potatoes and onions are not too hot to prevent mouth burns.
- Once the bonfire has ended, make sure that you have completely extinguished the fire by pouring sand or water on it.
In case of fire, call the Fire Department hotline 102.
Rules for protecting the environment
- Make sure to light a small bonfire to decrease the air pollution.
- Do not sit close to the fire or downwind, to avoid unnecessary inhalation of smoke and pollutants.
- Do not throw plastic or nylon into the fire, including disposables. If these materials catch fire, they release carcinogens into the air. To protect the environment, avoid using any disposables.
- Do not throw wood substitutes such as melamine, M.D.F, Formica, and painted wood into the fire. These release poisonous particles into the air when burnt.
- Do not throw glass or stones into the fire. Glass and stones can explode and endanger the people around the bonfire.
Video: Safe Lag BaOmer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuYkLgX7SaM