50 Tips for Celebrating a Safe Diwali

Diwali is round the corner and markets are brimming with fire crackers shops with the aroma of jalebi in the air. As we were browsing through the market my hubby was narrating his own Diwali experiences to my son who was spell-bound by all the festivities around him.

I reminisced my childhood days ( even till now) where I had to be literally locked up inside the house due to a bad accident.

I must have been 10 years at that time, big enough to buy my own firecrackers with the monthly allowance. I had run out of the supply of the crackers bought my dad the evening before Diwali and on Diwali day morning, as my neighbors were happily enjoying bursting crackers, I was left alone fuming at them.

So without informing anyone at home, ran off to the nearby shop and got a packet of 200 walas, and was happily bursting them without any adult supervision.

Then it happened, I had lit the cracker with the agarbathi and was waiting to hear the bursting sound, even after a minute there was no sound, so I went close and was trying to see whether the wick was alright, that was the moment when the cracker busted in my face, and for a second I could see only white sparks and was dizzy, luckily I was wearing spectacles and my eyes were saved. I had minor injuries over the face but the major effect was on my respiratory system. I had inhaled smoke and immediately became breathless and had to be rushed to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

I developed an everlasting allergy to the sulfur smoke, and still, now I am confined inside the house with doors and windows tightly locked. Lucky for me, my hubby hates wasting money and energy on crackers.

So on Diwali days, the whole family is inside the house sharing sweets and anecdotes about diwali and never venturing out for at least 3 days. But now my son wants to celebrate Diwali with his friends, I am super terrified of him bursting crackers and was preaching the do’s and dont’s again and again.

My experience prompted me to write this post on how to celebrate safe Diwali with kids for all parents who wish to provide a safe and healthy Diwali for their kids.

What are the ideal crackers to buy for kids ( below 12 years)

1. Do you know sparklers are 5 times hotter than hot cooking oil!!! Never give a sparkler to a kid below 5 years.
2. Flower pots, sanku chakram, tapes, sparklers can be used by older kids.
3. If they are bursting atom bombs, rockets it should be always under adult supervision.

Candle Safety

We usually use candles to light the agarbathis (used for lighting the wick of crackers ) and sparklers, there are some precautions that have to be followed:

4. The candle should be placed far way from where the crackers are used.
5. Do not place crackers or any inflammable articles near the candle.
6. Should be fixed firmly to the ground.
7. Place them in an area where there are at least 3 feet between the candle and any surface above it.

Sparkler Safety

If you are giving your kid (above 5 years) Sparklers then please follow the following precautions.

8. Always light sparklers one at a time.
9. Never hold a baby or child if you are having a sparkler in hand.
10. Plunge finished sparklers hot end down into a bucket of water after they have burned out.
11. Always supervise children while using sparkler.
12. Show children how to hold sparklers – away from their body and at arm’s length.
13. Tell the children not to wave sparklers near anyone or run while holding them.

How to prepare the area to light crackers?

Before starting to get gala with the fireworks check off these points to ensure a safe environment for your kids to burst the fireworks

14. Select a free open area with no vehicles or trees nearby, due to lack of spaces, I have seen many people bursting crackers in parking areas!!!
15. A bucket or two of water.
16. Eye protection and gloves.
17. A bucket of soft earth to put fireworks in.
18. Suitable support launchers for spinwheels and rockets.
19. Always keep the First Aid Box Ready.
20. Keep away pets from the vicinity.

Do’s for a Safe Diwali

21. Adult supervision.
22. Buy only good quality firecrackers.
23. Keep chakkars and flower pots on the even ground.
24. Wear Closed footwear and close-fitting clothes.
25. Light crackers at arm’s length using a taper.
26. Ensure the kid lights only one firecracker at a time.
27. Discard used fireworks in a bucket of water or sand.
28. Use candle or agarbathi for lighting cracker.
29. Check surrounding area for inflammable material before bursting crackers.
30. Always Keep the First Aid Kit ready.

Don’ts for a Safe Diwali

31. Never hold lighted firework in hand.
32. Never wear loose or flowing clothes.
33. Never allow children to carry fireworks in the pocket.
34. Never go near a firework that has been lit – even if it hasn’t gone off, there is the chance of exploding.
35. Never light crackers indoors or corridors.
36. Never bend down to light the fireworks.
37. Never put fireworks in a container before lighting them.
38. Never let them light aerial fireworks if there is a tree or overhead wires nearby.
39. Never throw the used fireworks on the streets or public places.
40. Never allow the children to point or throw fireworks at others.

First Aid for Burns

Fire Cracker Burns are very common during Diwali, always keep a first aid box ready in the vicinity while bursting crackers.

Before doing first aid, please be aware of the Degrees of Burn Injury.

If a child or adult suffers from burn injury please do the following

41. Place the burnt area under cool running water or a damp cloth can be placed over the injury if not very painful.
42. Don’t use Ice to cool the burns, it causes further damage to tissues.
43. Remove the clothing from the burn site, remove ornaments like bangles, finger rings, anklets, chains as the area will start to swell after some time making it difficult to remove them.
44. Take care not to break the blisters.
45. If it is a superficial burn you can apply a soothing ointment like Silverex can be applied over the wound.
46. If there is eye injury, immediately wash the eyes with water and call emergency.
47. If the person inhales smoke and is breathless, move him into the fresh air and rush him to an emergency.

Note: Refer a burn larger than a palm of an adult hand to doctor.

Healthy diet to help recover from burn injury

49. Drink plenty of water.
50. Eat plenty of foods rich in antioxidants for faster healing.

Free Printable Diwali Safety Checklist

Download your Free Diwali Safety Checklist

Do you have any useful tips on How to Celebrate Safe Diwali, do let us know by commenting below…

Wishing you a Happy & Safe Diwali !!!

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