A quieter Diwali has meant fewer injuries too

NAGPUR: Taking care of safety norms, caring about others and the environment sure pays. This year, most doctors said there were fewer firecracker related injuries and untoward incidents. While the number of people getting burn injuries due to firecrackers remained low, the injuries sustained were also not of severe extent in most cases. Eye injuries and those with burns on hands were the most common kinds.
At Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital, 15 people had reported till Monday afternoon with cracker related injuries. "Thirteen of them had minor injuries treated in the OPD itself. One patient each was admitted for observation in ophthalmic and surgery departments. Those two, too, are expected to recover soon," said the medical superintendent of the hospital Dr Mohan Khamgaonkar.
Last year, the eye department of the hospital had six patients, two of which were major, an 11-year-old who had a sutli bomb bursting too close to his face and another boy who got injured when an anar went off close by.
The eye department of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) had four patients, two of whom had incurred severe injuries. "We had five patients this year all of whom had only superficial burns. We advised two to get admitted only for observation, but they preferred to come everyday instead," informed head of the ophthalmology department of GMCH Dr Ashok Madan.
At Colours Children Hospital, four children with injuries were admitted last year including one who had spilled hot oil on himself. This year, there were no admissions or referrals. "Most paediatric surgeons I know also said they had no children with injuries coming this year. This is because of promotion of eco-friendly Diwali among children. Also, we must remember that most injuries during the festival are those that could have been prevented. So, we are definitely teaching children to play it safe," said paediatrician Dr Sanjay Marathe.
President of Nagpur Academy of Ophthalmology Dr Anil Bajaj, however, said though the number of injuries remained almost the same every year, the severity had reduced over time. "I had seven patients on Monday morning. A 24-year-old who had abrasions in his cornea due to small pieces of stone entering eyes was the only severe one," he said.
Paediatrician Dr Suchit Bagde informed he saw a couple of children with asthma and allergies, and only one child with burn injuries on the day after Diwali. "Awareness about safety norms and environmental consciousness have caused the children to be careful about what kind of crackers they buy," he said. He also pointed out that unlike most years, the crackers were not burnt for all five days of the festival but only on the day of Laxmi Puja. "Also, visibility is low on the day after Diwali. Even this did not happen this year," he added.
INJURY TALLY
GMCH (eye department): 5 injuries, all minor, no admissions
IGGMCH: 15 patients, 13 minor injuries, 1 severe eye injury, 1 severe burn injury
Colours Children's Hospital: no admissions or referrals
Common injuries: particles flying into eyes, hand burns, allergies aggravated