It's that time of the year that kids look forward to most. New clothes, lots of sweets, friends, family, holidays and tones and tones of firecrackers to keep them happy. Just a few weeks away from Diwali while most parents are busy prepping for the festivities to come, safety precautions usually melt away in the background. While the citizens of parenting town want the little ones to enjoy, the fact that potential accident risks increase during Diwali cannot be ignored. Here are some helpful tips that will ensure Diwali to be a safe season of fun, family and laughter, like it should be.
1. Adult supervision: When dealing with firecrackers, make it a point that a responsible adult is around to keep an eye on the fireworks. Children tend to get carried away which can lead to accidents and injuries which can easily be prevented by adult supervision.
2. Safety instructions: Go through the safety instructions for Diwali and depending on your child's age explain it to them too. Informed kids are more likely to be cautious and stay safe.
3. Safety First: Most Diwali accidents are related to fireworks, so make it a point that the fireworks are used in open spaces away from homes and vehicles. Additionally, always keep a bucket of water, fire extinguisher and a first aid box handy as a precautionary measure.
4. Dispose responsibly: Always make sure that the used sparklers and other crackers are disposed of properly in a bucket of water to keep kids from accidentally stepping on a hot one and get burns.
5. Dress smart: When out lighting crackers, make it a point to wear fitting cotton clothes as a precautionary measure. Synthetic flowing clothes are good for the pooja at home but pose a hazard when there are crackers bursting around in every nook and cranny in the street.
6. Eat wisely: Prefer getting your Diwali sweets and foods from reputed stores and if possible try to cook your own sweets at home since adulterated food is known to flood the markets during Diwali. Such adulterated food can make the little ones very sick. Its best to stick to your trusted stores for supplies and fall back on home cooking if you find it feasible.
7. Light over sound: Opt for branded and government approved firecrackers that are low on the noise it makes and more colorful instead. Loud crackers can affect your child's hearing and can even cause damage in some cases. Prefer to keep kids away from loud fireworks.
8. Protective gear: If you can manage it, get your kids to use protective gear at least for their eyes and ears to minimize damage from air and sound pollution. Try and use stylish and comfortable gear so the kids want to wear it.
9. Handle with caution: Children, especially young ones should not be allowed to handle crackers on their own. Make sure that an adult is helping them handle the sparklers and ensuring that the kids stay at a safe distance from the bursting crackers.
Ensure kids safety for a fun safe Diwali this and the years to come.
