Getting ready to celebrate the festival of lights in full swing? Vibrant decorations, colourful lights, and a sky lit up with sparkling fireworks. Sounds mesmerising, right?
But as mesmerising as it may sound, fireworks and crackers actually account for a large number of mishaps and accidents at this time of the year. Eyes are the 2nd most commonly affected body part after fingers and hands. Most of these injuries are a result of improper safety measures or carelessness in adherence to local rules.
| DID YOU KNOW? In 2025, approximately 1600 people reported to local hospitals with injuries caused by fireworks during Diwali. (via The Tribune) |
Because of the safety risks involved, experts discourage the use of fireworks altogether, and rightly so! An enjoyable yet much safer alternative could be viewing authorised fireworks and laser light shows, conducted by licensed professionals.
However, if you are going to be around crackers this Diwali, here are some safety tips you can keep in mind to celebrate safely and responsibly.
Eye Safety & Protection Tips for Diwali
Store fireworks away from kids
Make sure you keep fireworks (if any) out of the reach of children. This is so they cannot access the fireworks and use them without supervision, endangering their safety.
Maintain close supervision
It is crucial to maintain close supervision of children if they plan on bursting crackers. Ensure they follow rules and regulations, prioritising personal safety as well as the safety of those around.
Avoid hand-held sparklers
Avoid hand-held fireworks that come with sparklers. Some of the sparklers can accidentally get in the eye and cause serious eye injury.
Maintain proper distance
Keep at least one armтАЩs distance between your/the kidsтАЩ face and the fireworks to avoid eye or any other kind of injury.
Keep fireworks away from clothes & hair
Festive clothing is often made out of synthetic flammable materials. Make sure your clothes and hair are out of the way if you plan on going near fireworks. Synthetic clothing can catch on fire easily; try to ensure you wear thick cotton clothing.
Follow safe use practices
Do not attempt to relight, dismantle, or handle unexploded, malfunctioning, or misfired fireworks. It is important to follow local fire-safety regulations for disposal. You can soak used fireworks to defuse them only if recommended by the relevant safety guidance.
Switch to alternative ways to celebrate
The best decision you can make for your & your familyтАЩs safety (and the environment too) is to say NO to fireworks altogether.
What to Do in Case of an Eye Injury?
Accidents can happen to anyone. This is why itтАЩs crucial to be prepared in case of an emergency. First things first, avoid rubbing, rinsing the eyes, or self-medicating. If an eye injury occurs, the best thing you can do is rush to get emergency care.
The eye doctors are always on standby, especially during the festive season, to help safeguard your eyes and save your vision.
If you follow the above-listed precautions, you can ensure a safe, healthy, and happy Diwali for yourself and your loved ones.
