Firecrackers.
Firecrackers.Flash90

A relatively high degree of caution was exercised by Israelis this year with regard to possible Purim holiday-related injuries, but Monday saw at least two such injuries nonetheless.

One youth suffered moderate injuries and another suffered light injuries after they played with firecrackers on Jerualem's Kasouto Street.

Volunteer medics from the Jerusalem branch of Ichud Hatzala gave the injured youths initial treatement before they were evacuated to a hospital for further care.

Ichut Hatzala called on parents and other adults to keep children and youths from playing with firecrackers and the like, since they are extremely dangerous.

Also Monday, a three-year-old boy was found alone inside a closed bus at Har Nof. Firefighters broke into the bus and he was taken by Magen David Adom to a medical facility for tests. His parents said they had forgotten the child inside the bus 45 minutes earlier.

To help understand why so many injuries occur, Arutz Shevaspoke three weeks ago to Dr. Ronen Libster, chief of Emergency Services at Ma'ayenei Hayeshua hospital in Bnei Brak. 

"Firecrackers are explosives, for all intents and purposes," Dr. Libster noted Tuesday, "and injuries from them could be very serious. They can cause burns, blindness if detonated near the eyes, or even amputate fingers." 

Dr. Libster added that the more serious injuries from Purim-related firecracker incidents involve blindness and amputated fingers. One particularly severe case the doctor treated involved a twelve-year-old boy who came into the ward with severe burns to his chest and face, after a firecracker exploded prematurely.