Precautions to take this Diwali

A few precautions alongside the excitement of lights, firecrackers, and family gatherings, will ensure that our Diwali celebrations remain joyful and safe for everyone, Dr Shalini Singh, senior ophthalmologist, LVPEI, said.

Hyderabad: Ophthalmologists from Hyderabad-based L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) on Tuesday urged people to celebrate Diwali festival with caution while they light-up firecrackers. A few precautions alongside the excitement of lights, firecrackers, and family gatherings, will ensure that our Diwali celebrations remain joyful and safe for everyone, Dr Shalini Singh, senior ophthalmologist, LVPEI, said.

In case of eye injury:

---

Dos:

• Rinse eye gently to remove debris in the eye, rinse clean water or saline solution.
• Place a clean, dry cloth or eye shield over the eye to prevent additional injury.
•  Keep the injured eye closed to avoid further damage.
• Adhere to instructions from a medical professional after the initial examination.

Don’ts:

•  Put pressure on injured eye, as this could worsen the injury.
•  Touch or rub injured eye, as this can exacerbate the injury.
•  Use ointments, creams, or home remedies on the eye without professional guidance.
•  Try to remove a foreign object lodged in the eye
•  Delay seeking medical care because prompt treatment is crucial.
• Ignore symptoms like severe pain, vision changes, or excessive bleeding,

Precautions on firecrackers:

• Purchase fireworks only from authorized manufacturers
• Safely store firecrackers in cardboard boxes, out of children’s reach
• Supervise children while they play with firecrackers.
• Allow only one person to light a firecracker while others watch from a safe distance.
• Choose open areas for lighting firecrackers.
• Utilize long candles/ phuljharis to ignite firecrackers.
• Keep two buckets of water to douse burns immediately
• Wear protective shatterproof goggles when bursting firecrackers.
• Avoid lighting crackers inside a container/ bottle/ tin can/ overturned pot
• Do not collect leftover firecrackers
• Wear thick cotton clothing, avoiding synthetic materials when lighting crackers.
• Secure all clothing tightly; loose garments can be dangerous.
• Do not ignite flying fireworks during heavy winds.