Diwali without crackers is a little difficult for us to imagine. Inarguably the biggest Hindu festival, Diwali is celebrated with great fervour across India. But since crackers and fireworks form such a big part of the festival, doctors see increased cases of burns during Diwali time. Usage of firecrackers has been tied to numerous accidents that are usually ignored. Every year we witness accidents because of either malfunctioning of the firecrackers or some or the other reason minor mishaps. Sale of Safe and Green Firecrackers Allowed, No Complete Ban Across India, Rules Supreme Court Ahead of Diwali 2018.
Dr Ashwin Shetty Consultant, Ophthalmology Aster CMI Hospital, lays down a few ways you can prevent unfortunate accidents during Diwali celebration. Air Pollution Killed Over 1 Lakh Children in India in 2016: World Health Organization.
1) Be aware of your surroundings when firecrackers are going off. Most injuries happen to bystanders when a firecracker goes off around them.
2) Children should always be supervised by adults when setting off firecrackers.
3) Never try to relight a firecracker which hasn't gone off the first time.
4) Make sure there are no loose gravel glass bottles etc. near the site where you are lighting your crackers. These can shatter and fly off by the force of the explosion and cause serious injuries.
5) Projectile firecrackers (Rockets /7 shot etc.) should never be set off in a horizontal position.
6) Keep a water source (bucket of water) handy to douse accidental fires.
7) Warn motorists (especially two-wheeler riders) when they are approaching your lit firecracker which is about to go off.
However, if any unfortunate mishap takes place around you must not panic and In case of an injury here are a few things you must keep in mind according to Dr.Ashwin Shetty.
1) Rinse the area with clean drinking water.
2) Do not opt for any home remedies like turmeric/rose water etc. This is especially important if there is a suspicion of injury to the eyeball as these can cause severe inflammation/infection if they enter the eye.
3)Take the patient to an eye doctor as soon as possible.
4) Do not attempt to forcibly open the eyes if they are swollen shut. It may cause further damage if the eyeball has suffered a penetrating injury.
Diwali Health Effects: How To Stay Safe in the Polluted Air During The Festive Season. Make sure you take good care of children and wear clothes that aren't prone to fire accidents. We wish you a happy, safe and green Diwali.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 07, 2018 08:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).