Diwali safety tips for kids as well as parents

Diwali is the festival of light and togetherness. It is the celebration of victory of good over evil and an exciting time for kids as well as elders. Light, new clothes, mithai and crackers, all of this make the festival super special and worth the wait. But all this is true only if you stay safe.

In the past few years, a lot of people have lost their eyesight and have got serious burns due to carelessness. Unattended children burning fireworks have been the major cause of accidents caused during Diwali. This is something you must avoid during the festivals.

But safety doesn’t just mean being careful around diyas and firecrackers. It includes many other factors like ensuring the comfort of your elders, pets, shielding children from burns, keeping the streets litter free and the environment less polluted.

Here is the list of top 10 safety tips that are absolutely essential for you and your family this Diwali.

Diwali is quite literally the festival of light where homes are lit with diyas and candles. But if not taken care of, diyas can lead to fires.

What you can do:

- Keep the candles and diyas away from curtains and other inflammable objects.

- Do not light diyas near electrical wires.

- Put the candles/diyas on a flat surface so they do not fall.

- Keep your pets and babies away from diyas.

- Do not keep the diyas on the doorways so that no one falls and hurt themselves.

Despite the government ban, firecrackers are still a big part of Diwali celebration. Especially when you have children and teens in the family.

What you can do:

- First and foremost, avoid bursting firecrackers, if possible at all.

- Do not burst crackers that emit a lot of noise and smoke.

- If you plan to buy, buy firecrackers from trusted brands and stores to make sure they are of good quality.

- Explain your children to burn crackers under elder supervision.

- Lit the crackers in an open space and burst only one cracker at a time.

- Keep a water bucket handy that can be used in case of an accident.

- Do not stand to close to where crackers are being burst.

Waste disposal

Make sure to dispose off the burnt crackers safely. Half burnt crackers can cause hazard. So, stack up the used sparklers, chakaris and phuljaris in a bucket of water before throwing them away.

Even if you don’t choose to burn noisy crackers, your neighbours might do it. Loud noise can be unbearable for elderly, babies and pets. Babies often start crying and pets get uncomfortable due to the noise of crackers.

What you can do:

- Limit the use of crackers as much as you can.

- If you are allergic to smoke, do not go outdoors.

- Keep babies and pets inside the home with door and windows closed to minimise the sound of crackers.

An important ritual of Diwali celebration is wearing new clothes. But dressing up comfortably is very important for you as well as your family.

What you can do:

- Avoid wearing synthetic clothes as they can catch fire easily.

- Wear cotton clothes that are not very loose or flowy.

- Dress your kids in comfortable clothes and also tie their hair to avoid mishaps.

No Diwali is complete without the lip-smacking delicacies prepared for the celebration of the festival. But due to the high demand, the quality of food is compromised.

What you can do:

- Buy food and sweets from reputed stores and shops that ensure you about the quality.

- Ensure you and your kids wash hands before eating food.

- Avoid having street food and keep the food covered.

- Try to make sweets at home as there is nothing more tasty and hygienic than that.

Keep handy with you

- A bucket of water

- First aid box

- Fire extinguisher