Shows you the way to ward-off mishaps during Diwali
SNEHA SINGH
diyas your feet so that you don’t end up hurting yourself from brunt crackers on the floor.
Take extra care
Your eyes and ears are the two primary sensory organs which are highly susceptible to the aftermath of celebration. Dr Shashi Kapoor, Ophthalmologist, Eye Surgeon and a professor at JJ Medical College says, “Smoke and smog can cause an adverse effect on eyes and vision. It is advisable to wear protective eyeglasses during this time. Frequent washing of the eyes with clean running water will also help to reduce the load of harmful elements present in the eye.”
Dr Shrinivas Chavan, HOD of ENT Department (Eyes, Nose and Throat) at JJ Hospital warn, “It’s recommended to avoid sounds louder than 140 decibels of maximum sound pressure. Firecrackers can exceed 150 decibels and prolonged exposure to sounds over 80 decibels can also lead to a permanent hearing loss.”
Watch what you eat
Diwali is incomplete without sweets and savouries. We exchange them with our friends and relatives and hog on delectable festive specials without guilt. Apart from smog, smoke, noise and fire, another major issue that arises during this time is food adulteration. Don’t buy sweets or food items from street-side shops as they are less likely to follow the quality standards. Stocking up on sweets in advance could be a bad idea as they might get stale if not consumed in the stipulated time limit. Smell before you eat and buy food items which FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved.
Decorate with care
During Diwali, we make sure that every nook and corner of our home shines brightly. We light diyas, lamps and lanterns so that our home dazzles and radiates the festive vibes. But if you have kids and infants at home then make sure you keep flammable items like diyas and aggarbattis far from their reach. Don’t put diyas near curtains as they may catch fire.
Celebrate responsibly
It’s usually happens that people don’t keep a check on how their celebrations affect others. Make a point to not leave kids alone while they burst crackers. “Even the most innocent looking crackers like phuljari, chakri can cause immense damage. An accidental injury can occurs anytime, so children should be under careful supervision at all times,” says Dr Kapoor.
Loud noises can scare animals and may cause discomfort for sick people. Avoid burning crackers near hospitals or old age homes. Dr Sunita Bage, ENT specialist, Asst. Professor at JJ Medical College says, “Loud noise and air pollution caused by the firecrackers adversely affects the human body. It triggers stress, annoyance, hypertension sleep disturbance running nose, sneezing irritation of the eye, sore throat, difficulty in breathing and lungrelated diseases.” Hence, it is better not to trouble people with your celebration.
Expert advise
Apart from the above safety measures Dr Kapoor and Dr Bage shares some essential safety tips for you. Dr Kapoor says, “It is better that infants and older people are kept indoors during this time. If they wish to participate it is best they keep a large safety distance to observe the fireworks displays. If somebody suffers an eye injury due to firecrackers it is recommended to only put a clean gauze on the eye and rush to a casualty dept of a hospital or in particular an eye hospital. It is not advised to clean or rub or wash the eye.”
Whereas Dr Bage advises, “Do not light firecrackers inside the house. Avoid sound producing fireworks. Stay indoors with the door closed. Cover your ear with cotton earplugs. Keep your inhalers handy and stock up your refills with a proper expiry date. Wear wet cloth as a mask to avoid shortness of breath or choking.”