Karnataka   

Some tips on celebrating a safe Deepavali

Manipal: Pramod Kumar, Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery and burns care specialist at Kasturba Hospital, said on Wednesday that a safe celebration of Deepavali called for supervision and vigilance while lighting firecrackers and lamps.

In a press release issued here, Dr. Kumar said that the emergency services of most hospitals report a rise in burns cases during the festival. The Burns Care Centre of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, received more burns cases on the Deepavali day last year.

Dr. Kumar suggests few guidelines to celebrate a safe Diwali.

Children should burst crackers only under the supervision of elders; crackers should never be ignited while holding them in the hand; flower pots should be ignited using an incense stick or a sparkler with a safe distance between the cracker and the hand; never burst crackers in closed places; light one firecracker at a time; lighting rows of firecrackers should be avoided; aerial firecrackers should be lit in an open field and never in a closed compound; half -burnt crackers should either be doused in water or in sand; wear cotton rather than silks and polyesters; make children wear footwear that is comfortable, closed and easy to run in; keep handy a bucket of water, sand and blankets to put out fire. In case of minor burns, clean the area gently with cool water and cover with a clean, dry cloth; do not apply cotton. Do not apply ice directly on the burnt area; in case the eye is affected, wash with cold water immediately for some time.

If a person’s clothes catch fire, roll him on the ground or wrap him in a blanket to douse the fire and drench the person with water; do not panic if blisters form as they indicate that the injury is superficial and will heal; do not allow the person to run about as air fans the flames and makes burns worse; in case of serious burns, do not try and remove the clothing since some of it may be stuck to the body, instead, just wrap the patient in clean clothes and seek help; keep the burnt parts of the body elevated; rush to hospital.

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Some tips on celebrating a safe Deepavali

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