More than 2,100 Israelis wounded while running to bomb shelters

Many serious injuries among Israeli civilians are caused by the rush to safety rather than by explosions.

By World Israel News Staff

As Iran continues to fire cluster munitions toward residential areas in Israel, civilians face a growing and less visible danger: injuries sustained while rushing to bomb shelters.

According to a report by the Ministry of Health, at least 2,138 Israelis were treated in hospitals after being injured while attempting to reach shelter. The figure, accurate as of March 30, is likely higher following additional large-scale barrages, including massive salvos launched by Iran on the first night of Passover.

Of those admitted to emergency rooms, approximately 21% required hospitalization overnight or longer. Notably, 34.5% of all patients suffered bone fractures.

Many of these injuries were severe. Around 17% of fracture cases required invasive surgical procedures, including joint replacements or the insertion of metal plates.

“The pattern of injuries corresponds to forward falls — the person loses balance, tries to brake with their hands, falls forward, and the load passes through the neck, back, and upper limbs,” Dr. Joseph Palatchi, an orthopedic specialist at Rambam Health Care Campus, told Hebrew-language outlet Ynet.

“In older adults, such a fall can end in a complex fracture of the hip, wrist, or spinal vertebrae—injuries that in many cases require surgery and long rehabilitation,” he added.

Women over the age of 50 are particularly vulnerable due to lower bone density associated with osteoporosis. Preexisting medical conditions also significantly increase the risk of falls and serious injury.

“A person with diabetes or heart disease is not always able to make a sharp transition from sitting to running when the alarm sounds,” said Dr. Yaniv Keren, deputy director of the orthopedic department and head of orthopedic trauma at Rambam, speaking to Ynet.

“His body reacts differently — sometimes there is dizziness, a loss of balance….and a fall is almost inevitable.”

Dr. Keren urged Israelis to prioritize safe movement over speed when responding to air raid sirens. He recommends walking carefully rather than running and ensuring that paths to shelters — especially those within apartments —are free of obstacles or debris.