Safety is the key to a happy Diwali

Eight out of 10 burn cases on Diwali are caused by anaars, say doctors; advise keeping a bucket of water, emergency numbers handy

NAVI MUMBAI: Even as you stock up on crackers to burst through the evening today, make sure the festivities don’t take a toll on safety. A few simple precautions could save you and your l oved ones a l ot of hassle, experts said.

According to doctors, while the number of patients with redness in their eyes, watering and itchiness is on the rise around Diwali, the figure increases drastically on Diwali day.

National Bur ns Centre, Airoli, which provides treatment and rehabilitation to burn patients, also gets much busier during Diwali. “The number of patients increases by four times during the festival. Most cases are of small burns less than 10%,” said Sunil Keswani, secretary and a cosmetic surgeon at the National Burns Centre.

Keswani said anaars or flower pots were the most dangerous cracker and usually causes maximum harm. “Eight out of 10 cases are caused by flower pots. I advise people to always keep a bucket of water handy while bursting crackers,” he said.

In fact, most medical experts suggest keeping the numbers of family doctors and a local hospital as well as the blood group of family members handy. “There numbers should be easily accessible to all members in the family,” said Dr Atul Gattani, consultant rheumatologist, Wockhardt hospital, Vashi.

Children, senior citizens and asthma patients are at the greatest risk of health problems during Diwali. While many schools urge students to enjoy a smoke- free Diwali, doctors advise senior citizens with a heart condition to avoid noisy areas as it may lead to palpitation and headaches.

However, fire units in the city all set to deal with any emergency. “We are always alert, especially on Diwali. I have notified all officials to be present at work and have also issued a notice on safety precautions for the general public,” said Vijay Rane, chief fire officer, Vashi.