Read before you light
Firecracker safety
Almost every Diwali injury comes from one of a handful of avoidable mistakes. Two minutes here is worth more than anything else on this site.
Do
- Buy only from a licensed dealer, and check that the box carries a manufacturer name and licence number.
- Burst crackers in an open space, well away from buildings, dry grass, vehicles and overhead wires.
- Keep two buckets of water and a bucket of sand within reach before you start.
- Light one cracker at a time, at arm’s length, using an agarbatti or a long taper — never a match held close.
- Wear close-fitting cotton clothes. Loose synthetic fabric catches and holds fire.
- Keep children within arm’s reach of an adult at all times, and give them only sparklers and ground novelties.
- Soak every spent cracker in water before throwing it away.
Don't
- Never relight a cracker that has failed. Wait at least five minutes, then soak it in water.
- Never hold a cracker in your hand while lighting it, or throw a lit one towards anyone.
- Never light crackers inside a house, on a balcony, or in a narrow lane between buildings.
- Never keep crackers in your pocket — body heat and friction are enough to set some off.
- Never store crackers near a stove, a lamp, an inverter or any electrical point.
- Never let a child handle aerial shells, rockets or atom bombs, whatever their age.
- Never use a metal or glass container to burst a cracker inside — it becomes shrapnel.
If someone is burned
- Cool the burn under clean running water for at least 20 minutes. Nothing else works as well.
- Do not apply ice, toothpaste, oil, butter or turmeric — all of them make the injury worse.
- Do not break blisters or peel away clothing that has stuck to the skin.
- Cover loosely with a clean, non-fluffy cloth or cling film.
- For any burn on the face, hands or a joint, anything larger than a palm, or any eye injury, go to hospital immediately.
Storage and the law
Keep crackers in their original box, in a cool dry place, away from any flame or electrical point, and out of reach of children. Follow the bursting hours set by your state — in most of India these are 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Diwali. Green crackers only are permitted in several cities, and some areas ban firecrackers outright under Supreme Court orders. Check your local rules before you buy.