Nagpur: Hand sanitiser, the everyday product many people reach for, can turn dangerous the moment a cracker is lit. District health officials have warned that sanitiser contains alcohol and is highly flammable, and have asked people not to apply it immediately before bursting firecrackers, as some might do while snacking on sweets in between.Gondia’s district health officer Dr Abhijit Golhar said, “Diwali’s joy should be safe for everyone. A small lapse caused by firecrackers can lead to a major accident. All citizens should therefore follow health rules strictly and celebrate a safe Diwali.” He added that washing hands with soap remains the safest method.Assistant district health officer Dr Arvind Kumar Waghmare said the type of clothing worn is also very important. “Children and adults should avoid loose nylon, terylene or other synthetic clothes while lighting crackers and wear close-fitting cotton instead. Crackers should be burst only in open, safe spaces such as a ground, and never inside homes, on balconies or in narrow lanes,” said Waghmare. They advised that a cracker that fails to go off should not be checked from close quarters, and should be doused with water from a distance.District officials also advised that children should never be left to light crackers alone, and an adult must supervise every time, with a long incense stick or a stick used to light a cracker from a safe distance.The officers also pointed to smoke. “Toxic fumes from firecrackers are extremely harmful to the lungs, so people with asthma, allergies, cough or other respiratory ailments, senior citizens and small children should stay away from places where crackers are being burst. A mask or handkerchief should cover the face of anyone bursting crackers or moving around the area,” said Golhar.Residents were urged to avoid traditional, high-smoke crackers and choose low-smoke, low-noise green crackers.On preparedness, the officers advised keeping a bucket of water and a bucket of sand at the spot to prevent accidents and to put out any fire quickly. A first-aid kit should be ready at home. In case of a burn, only cold water should be poured on the skin immediately, and no ink, oil, ghee or any home ointment should be applied without a doctor’s advice.For any emergency medical help, residents should contact the nearest primary health centre or govt hospital without delay, the officers said.
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