Tips for a Safe Diwali

A major festival of Hindus, Diwali (or Deepavali) is celebrated by all irrespective of caste, creed and religion with a spirit of togetherness. Diwali is celebrated to acknowledge the victory of good over evil. The lighting of earthen lamps or diyas on a moonless night signifies a new beginning of enlightenment and the end of darkness of ignorance.

The festival of lights brings with it worship, brightly lit lamps, new clothes, sweets and of course crackers. Crackers are an inevitable part of the festival. However, crackers are not only bad for the environment due to its addition to pollution, but it is also bad for your health due to the amount of smoke emitted by it. It can trigger off cough, allergies and asthma. Thus, enjoy diwali but keep cracker bursting to the minimum and follow certain tips to ensure that your diwali remains safe and without any unwanted accidents.

Do's:

• Always purchase fireworks from an authorized or licensed fireworks agency or shop.
• Before bursting fire crackers, look for an open space and ensure there are no combustible and inflammatory things around. Also, avoid burning fireworks or sparklers indoors.
• Keep small children away from the bursting area.
• Maintain the distance between your body (especially your face) and the crackers by extending your entire arm when lighting firecrackers.
• Use an agarbatti (incense stick), phooljhari (sparkler) or a long candle to light a cracker.
• While lighting crackers, wear heavier cotton clothes to ensure maximum safety from fire. Do not wear nylon or synthetic clothes as they can easily catch fire. Also, do not wear loose, hanging clothes.
• Read the label on the crackers and follow the instructions carefully.
• Store the fireworks in a closed container and keep fireworks stock away while lighting a particular firework.
• While igniting aerial fireworks like rockets ensure that they are not facing any opening like an open window, door or an open building which may cause fire accidents.
• Organize a community display of fireworks rather than individuals handling crackers.
• As a safety measure while bursting crackers, keep first aid and buckets of water handy. In the event of fire, extinguish flame by pouring water from the buckets.
• Wear footwear while lighting fireworks.
• In case of burns, splash tap water (not ice water) on the affected area till the burning sensation reduces. Avoid any kind of friction or pressure on the burnt area, and cover the area of the burn with moist sterile bandage (do not use blanket or towel for covering the burns). Consult the doctor as soon as possible for proper medication.

Don'ts:

• Never leave a lit match, agarbatti (incense stick) or sparkler near unused crackers.
• Do not light crackers while holding them. Not only can the cracker burst in your hand, but when you throw the cracker, you could miscalculate and hurt someone else.
• Never ignite aerial fireworks (like rockets) if there is any overhead obstruction present like trees and wires.
• Do not carry fireworks in your pocket while igniting another firework. They're explosives and can go off prematurely even if they're not lit.
• Do not tend to burst crackers when some one else is trying to ignite one.
• When crackers take time or do not ignite immediately, do not attempt to relight or tamper with the cracker. It could still go off and have even less of a wick. Let it sit for several minutes and then throw some water to diffuse them.
• Do not ignite fireworks in any tin or bottle for an extra sound effect.

Follow these safety measures and make your diwali a happy, safe and a prosperous one.