Precaution and Safety During Diwali – The Festival of Lights and Prayers.
Diwali is the festival of lights, prayers, happiness and also people decorate houses and public buildings with lot of colourful lights and do visit each other to share good wishes on Diwali. This religious festival is celebrated all over India and in many countries of the world with fervor.
During this festival of Diwali other than religious ceremonies and prayer we witness a lot of lighting and fireworks. The lighting includes diyas (earthen pots filled with oil or clarified butter [ghee] and there is fire lit on it) , candles, electrical lighting. We also see fanush (flying fire lights) and firecrackers. In places there are temporary structures (pandals) are created with cloths, bamboo, tent material for people to assemble, eat and also for prayer and worship.
The presence of so much of things that are inflammable and fire calls for the need of adequate fire safety measures and firefighting equipment.
The high-rises in the urban area, more populated localities, roads and increase in density of population in rural area clubbed with road traffic restrictions, lack of freeways and more vehicles on road make it difficult for fire tenders (fire brigade) to reach the place of accident quickly. Medical help, doctors and ambulances may also take little more time depending on availability and road conditions.
It is imperative to take suitable precaution to avoid accidents due to fire, electricity and burns on these times.
Some of the precaution and safety
|
LIGHTING |
FIREWORKS |
HEALTH |
| Do not places diyas, candles and other open flames near electrical equipments, inflammable material. | Buy fireworks that are allowed by the appropriate authority. Do not buy or burn banned fireworks. | People with asthma, respiratory problems do follow medical advice. People with cardiac or neurological problems do take required protection against sound etc . |
| Keep an eye on the open flames of diyas and candles | Buy fireworks from licensed manufacturers only. Unlicensed cheap quality fireworks can be dangerous, toxic and harmful. | Do keep a bucket of clean water, ointment for burns, cleaning antiseptic lotion (mild on skin), a thick blanket and easily accessible water connection and pipe ready near the place for burning fireworks. |
| Keep an eye of children and old people while they are near the open flames | Follow the sound decibel limits while bursting fireworks. | Keep the phone number of a Hospital with Burns Ward and Emergency near at hand, in your cell phone, smart phone. Keep the app downloaded. |
| Do keep pets away from diyas and candles | Follow safety and usage instructions as it is while bursting fireworks, aerial fireworks. | Keep fire extinguisher ready and in good condition, water jets and sprinklers in working condition, fire exit etc clean so that people can access them quickly. |
| Only use good quality electrical lighting. Buy products of licensed brands only. | During fire-shows do not cross the safety lines, stay in the protected area and enjoy the fire-show. | Get mock fire drill done couple of times before Diwali day in your office, apartment, club, community area etc |
| Do take the service of a licensed electrician for large scale lighting. For home lighting use the lights as per safety instructions. Check fuses, electrical connections, wires well before installing the electrical lighting. | Fumes of low quality fireworks can be toxic. Asthma and patients with respiratory problems, allergy need to take precaution as per medical advice. Heart patients and people with neurological problems are advised to take required protection against sound. | Drive carefully. Never drink or consume (alcohol and other intoxicating materials) and drive. Do not over speed, follow traffic rules. Help others on streets. Give way to Ambulance and other appropriate vehicles. Be a responsible driver and citizen. |
| Low quality decorative lights can be toxic and harmful for children, aged people, pets and healthy adults too. | Do not burn firecrackers near LPG cylinders, electrical transformers, shops and on streets. | Take precaution, prevent and protest against harming animals, animal nests and street dogs while burning fire crackers. |
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