Better Safe Than Sorry

           Diwali and fire crackers have almost become synonymous. Fire crackers provide such a visual delight and could indeed be appreciated from the aesthetic point of view. Crackers add brightness and joy to our celebrations. However, one cannot ignore the fact that fire crackers, if not handled with care and caution, could pose a serious health hazard to many who come in contact with them. That is why, every year a number of people lose their eyesight and sustain burns during the festival. They could bring about untold miseries to revelers and ruin their Diwali celebrations. Hence, the key is adopting a safe approach. That would go a long way in ensuring that you have a happy and safe Diwali. After an eye injury, one may have complaints like diminishing vision, redness, watering and inability to open the eye. The injury may present with a lid tear, tear in conjunctiva or blood in the eye. Children lose their eye sight because of the eye injuries during these festivals despite full treatment being instituted in time. One should wear protective goggles while lighting fireworks to prevent eye injuries. Once the injury occurs, the eye should be immediately flushed with water. Hold the eye under a basin or shower or pour clean water into the eye. Keep the eye open and as wide as possible while flushing. Continue flushing for at least fifteen minutes. Then rush to an eye specialist as early as possible. Basic knowledge about primary care will make the treatment easier and faster.