Every year, Diwali brings dazzling lights, beauty, splendour, friendship and good cheer in our lives. But with that it also brings — for some at least — high blood sugar, burn injuries, respiratory disorders and other nagging health concerns.

As the nation gets ready to celebrate the festival of lights, here are a few things one can do to ensure that the festivities are not marred by unpleasant and avoidable accidents.

Burn injuries

Each year, burn injuries peak during Diwali and in a majority of cases, the accident could have been avoided with little care.

“We see a four-fold increase in burn injuries during Diwali. It is important that people, especially those who have children at home, educate themselves about ways to protect themselves and others around them,” says Dr K T Bhowmick, Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital — the largest centre for burn injuries in North India.

Since the Capital has few centres providing burn injury care — most already over-burdened — doctors maintain that it is important that people take precautions and avoid

accidents.

“Over 90 per cent of burns are accidental injuries and most patients are children playing with crackers or women lighting candles,” says Dr Anup Dhir, plastic surgeon associated with Indraprastha Apollo hospitals. “With a little care, most of these accidents can be avoided. Getting medical attention for burn injuries is difficult and when lots of accidents occur over a period of few days and those who cannot afford the care suffer the most,” says Dhir.

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