Hello Everybody!
Diwali is just around the corner and we are witnessing life back to normal after the COVID pandemic. The festival of lights marks an important Hindu mythological event but the extravagant use of firecrackers has always raised concerns for the air quality and pollution, the rising noise decibels, and more importantly FIRECRACKER Injuries!
Unlike western countries, we in India have very poor regulations over the use of firecrackers. In fact, Firecrackers are freely available to the common public in India and anyone can light the crackers wherever he/she desires. Fortunately, since 2005, the apex court of India has banned all sound-emitting firecrackers between 10 pm to 6 am. This may have helped the environment but NOT the injuries they cause.
Did you know? Diwali is the time in India when the Emergency rooms witness a rising number of accident visits. And as our on-call doctors are geared up for this annual season of ghastly injuries, they are none other than firecrackers injuries. Let’s get a perspective. 1 in every 100000 individuals in India is a victim of a Firecracker injury. Now that seems a very rare chance, right! But this is just one reported article from a tertiary care center in New Delhi. Thousands of such events get viral on social media each year and very few people with life-threatening injuries are admitted in the hospitals. The most dangerous injuries caused by these firecrackers are Body burns and Eye injuries leading to a lifelong deformity and disability.
Firecrackers can cause permanent eye damage and vision loss.
Firecrackers may be available in every nukkad, gully, or Naka, around Diwali. You may think you know how to handle them safely. But playing with firecrackers can blind you or your loved ones. Every year people suffer serious blinding eye injuries.
Whenever a firecracker blasts, a supersonic over-pressurized blast wave heats you up well causing the primary blast injury. Then the flying debris, bomb fragments, and projectiles hit the body with tremendous velocity causing blunt and penetrating secondary blast injuries. EYE INJURIES are usually projectile injuries and can cause chemical and thermal burns, structural damage to the eyes leading to rupture of the eyeball, foreign body entry into the eye, bleeding, and retinal detachment- all of which can cause permanent eye damage and vision loss. And guess what, Children and young adults are frequent victims. 50% of the injuries requiring an emergency room visit were to people between ages 5- 20 years. And some are just unfortunate bystanders.
So how do we ensure this Diwali is safe and joyous for you?
Here are some Safety Tips to use Firecrackers
Do Not Allow Young Children to play or ignite firecrackers. Even Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Children may not understand the danger involved with fireworks and may not act appropriately while using the crackers.
Allow Older Children to use firecrackers only under close adult supervision.
Set off firecrackers outdoors, away from houses, dry leaves, or grass, and other flammable materials. Keep the unused firecracker away from the firing areas.
Be sure other people are out of range before lighting a firecracker.
Light a firecracker one at a time and move back quickly. Do not experiment with them.
Keep a bucket of water or garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishaps.
Never try to relight or pick up firecrackers that have not ignited fully. Soak them with water and throw them away.
Never light a firecracker in a container, especially a glass, metal, or tin container, and definitely not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Instead, use Green Crackers!
What are Green Crackers?
The CSIR has developed firecrackers that are “less dangerous” and “less harmful” chemicals than conventional ones. They have a chemical formulation that produces water molecules, absorbs dust, and substantially reduces emission levels and particulate matter.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A FIRECRACKER EYE INJURY
If an eye injury from a firecracker occurs, it should be considered a Medical Emergency.
Do not rub your eyes.
Do not rinse your eyes.
Do not apply pressure.
Do not remove any objects that are stuck in the eye.
In case of any untoward incident, please visit our Centre for Eye Accident and Emergency. Call us on 7208492040 for any assistance. Please find below the link for an appointment:
Share this article with your loved ones.