Diwali 2018: 10 safety precautions you should take while bursting firecrackers

New Delhi: Diwali, the festival of lights, brings with it a spirit of happiness and prosperity. It is the time when friends and families throw a bash and celebrate the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. During the festival, people light fireworks and partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared. Unfortunately, this joyous celebration can become a tragic memory for some people, mainly due to lack of supervision and vigilance. Amid increasing levels of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court of India on October 23, 2018, allowed the use of only ‘green firecrackers’ with reduced emission and decibel levels during all religious festivals.

While bursting firecrackers is a part and parcel of the celebration, many receive burn injuries during Diwali due to carelessness or use of firecrackers in an unintended way – although there were occasional reports about firecrackers behaving erratically. Besides children, women are said to be most prone to burn injuries because they are involved in elaborate cooking and other household chores during festivities, including lighting diyas. In addition, crackers worsen air pollution levels, increasing the risk of respiratory problems and skin allergies among other health risks.

Air pollution causes a wide array of health problems, including asthma, lung disease, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Increase in air pollution levels can result in a number of symptoms such as eye burns, running nose, skin allergy and rashes. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy a healthy and allergy-free Diwali.

• People with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma, and breathing problems must stay indoors and limit their exposure to smoke as far as possible. They should also take medications as directed by their physicians prior to prolonged exposure to fumes and smoke. It is advisable to seek immediate medical help in case of extreme breathlessness.
• If you’re playing with crackers (green crackers), make sure that you wear loose, full sleeve, cotton clothes to avoid catching fire while lighting firecrackers. Avoid nylon or synthetic fabrics as they can easily catch fire and worsen burn injury.
• Wear protective eye gear to help prevent entry of particles into the eye and irritation by fumes.
• Avoid keeping your face close to the cracker while trying to light it. Keep a safe distance from firecrackers.
• Don’t burn crackers in crowded, congested places or near sources of fire or inside the house.
• After playing with crackers, wash your hands and feet thoroughly with water and soap as they contain materials that may be toxic to your health and skin.
• Wash your face properly. Pat dry and apply moisturiser on your hands and legs to hydrate the skin and avoid dryness.
• Drink plenty of water to clear up your skin and stay hydrated, giving you a healthy glow.
• Avoid or limit intake of fried foods that promote breakouts and make your skin look dull.
• Avoid chilled drinks that can aggravate wheezing.

While keeping these tips in mind, we encourage you to celebrate a cracker-free and smoke-free Diwali for a healthier and happier life.