Ludhiana, October 20
The festival of lights, Divali is celebrated with traditional fervour, joy and happiness every year but tragedy also strike many homes on this night. Several persons are blinded and many suffer serious burn injuries while bursting crackers. Majority of the victims are small children, who are ignorant about dangers posed by the crackers. The ENT, Eye and skin experts have stressed that due to crackers injuries could be very serious and one should be very careful, even while bursting a ‘phuljhari’.
Various city-based paediatricians have suggested that parents should not let small children burst the crackers alone. A paediatrician at a local nursing home said that in the case of an injury, the affected area should be washed to remove the dust and soot particles. “If the area is small then apply ice-packs. And in case the burn is large, it should be kept under running water. This helps in reducing the burning sensation,” he said. He stressed that turmeric, flour, ghee and toothpaste should not be applied. An antiseptic powder should be sprinkled on the wound and one should not hesitate in consulting a doctor.
Dr Ajay Sharma, an eye specialist, said serious sight threatening complications like the dislocation of lens, cataract secondary glaucoma, retinal tears rupture of the globe could occur due to crackers. Blunt injuries are caused because of blast effect from compressed air travelling from high-powered bombs. “One should not splash water in the eyes after cracker injuries, as this may lead to infection of corneal wounds”, said Dr Sharma.
Medical experts have stressed that children should always burst crackers under the supervision of adults. Crackers should be burst in open spaces and if possible, protective glasses used. The burnt area should immediately be washed with clean and cold water. An antiseptic cream or powder should be sprinkled on the affected area. One should wear cotton clothes while bursting crackers.
The medical experts have warned against removing pieces of burnt flesh or dead tissues and pricking blisters.
Dr Manish Munjal, ENT specialist, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, said every year the department received about 12 cases of fireworks trauma and more than 70 per cent of such patients were children. “Patients with ear perforations come quite late as initially there is numbness in ears. These patients have an ear discharge, due to the treatment by quacks. Hospitalisation and medication is required early in very serious cases of hearing loss,” said Dr Munjal.
Dr Munjal stressed that sudden numbness of ears, loss of ability to hear, ringing, buzzing or hissing sound and mild blood-tinged discharge from the ears necessitated a thorough check-up by an ear specialist. “The recovery is hindered and there could be a permanent hearing loss if a patient is not given timely treatment,” warned Dr
Munjal.
