If the incidence of burn injuries due to bursting firecrackers has decreased over the years, then there has been a dip in the noise levels too! The next three days of Diwali will be crucial keeping the fire brigade officials on their toes.

Acting Chief Fire Brigade officer Prashant Ranpise told The Indian Express that 450 personnel will be on duty from October 17-19. “Four years ago, the fire brigade personnel had to attend as many as 55 fire calls during the Diwali period. Last year, there were 18 fire calls, says Ranpise pointing out that there has been awareness among the people about the hazards of playing with fire crackers.

Ranpise points out that handbills have been distributed about the careful use of firecrackers and not wearing synthetic clothes while bursting them. We have advised adults to accompany children and ensure that the half burnt fire cracker is properly disposed. “At times, children collect the half burnt crackers, stuff it in a bottle and then light it. This is dangerous,” says Ranpise.

P K Mirashe, chief of the western region unit of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) says there has been a gradual decrease in the noise levels as the manufacturers have been strictly warned to produce firecrackers with permissible decibel levels. “We have taken measures to control noise pollution at the source itself,” says Mirashe.

According to doctors, the incidence of burn injuries has decreased over the years and people are a lot more careful than earlier. Says Dr Jaisingh Shinde, managing trustee of Surya Hospital which admits a majority of patients with severe burns, “Last year, there were 7-8 patients with minor burn injuries,”says Shinde.

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