Health Dept gears up to tackle mishaps on Diwali night

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 18

The district Health Department has made special duty rosters to deal with any mishap caused due to firecrackers and drunken brawls on Diwali night.

Besides mishaps due to firecrackers, drunken brawls keep medical staff on their toes through Diwali night.

Apart from special duties with more staff on Diwali night, the department has also asked all its employees not to leave the station as their services may be required in case of emergency.

Senior Medical Officer at the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital Dr Charanjit Singh said, “Eye and skin specialists, besides others doctors will be on duty. More doctors have been asked to be ready in the emergency situation. Last year, more 10 cases of drunken brawls were reported on Diwali night.”

He said as people consume alcohol to celebrate festivals, sometimes things slip out of control and turn ugly.

The management of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and the Employees State Insurance (ESI) hospital have appointed extra doctors at their respective hospitals.

Civil Surgeon Dr Narinder Kaur said most of the times, the children sustain injuries while playing with firecrackers and this could be avoided by keeping a close watch on them. There was a need to take necessary precautions while bursting crackers, she added.

The Civil Surgeon said parents must not allow children under the age of 10 years to use highly potent firecrackers.

She said as the government was also trying to check the usage of firecrackers, it would be better if the parents could counsel children on the issue.

The department has advised the people to take precautions to stay away from burn and other injuries. It has also advised the residents to keep first-aid kits at their homes in case of emergency.

Tips for ear safety

• Use ear plugs. 
• Make a distance from crackers. Loud noise can cause damage to hearing.
• Light crackers from a safe distance by using an incense stick
• Do not use glass or metal containers to burn crackers. 

Dealing with burn injuries

• Make the victim lie on the ground and roll him or her for extinguishing the fire. 
• Pour in cold water on the injury till the burning sensation ends. 
• Take the victim to hospital. 

Dos and don’ts for crackers

• Do not wear loose clothes. 
• Do not allow children to burst crackers on their own. 
• Keep a bucket of water nearby. .