Fire Safety During Diwali Celebration

Diwali the festival of lights is celebrated with much zeal and fervor all over India. It is one of the important festivals of India and marks the victory of good over evil or light over darkness. Diwali is celebrated by lighting diyas, candles, burning crackers, decorating the home for Diwali and sharing sweets with family and friends.The dark and gloomy nights are filled up with lights and lightnings which brings joy & happiness. Though the celebration and the festive mood fills up everyone, yet the chances of mishap onsets with it which might ruin the festive spirit. A little bit of care and precaution can prevent fire accidents and makes your Diwali jolly rather than making it a folly.

Precautions to prevent fire accidents during Diwali

The lighting of lamps symbolizes the dispelling of darkness and the dawn of hope and aspirations with joy; yet the same might create agony and chaos in your family. Every year the Fire department issues safety and precautionary measures that have to be taken by the general public and puts forward a list of preventive guidelines to prevent fire mishaps during Diwali. Fire accidents during Diwali can be prevented by making the general public and residents of the apartment more aware about fire safety. Some of the precautions that can be undertaken are highlighted as below:

• Lighting Diyas or Candles: Diwali is called as the festival of lights. Therefore diyas, a lamp made of clay and candles becomes an important part of the festival. Ensure that diyas or candles are not placed on surfaces which melt or burn easily. Also ensure that diyas or candles are at a safe distance from your curtains, and are out of reach of children and never left unattended.

• Firecrackers: Your  carelessness, ignorance or negligence with handling fireworks can end in fire accidents or burns. Every year, minor and major injuries are reported during Diwali. To prevent fire accidents, ensure that you buy firecrackers from vendors licenced to sell them, and store them in a safe place. Keep fire crackers away from all sources of heat and ensure to read instructions before lighting them..

• Special Care for Senior Citizen & Pregnant Women: Noise pollution can cause hearing loss, high blood pressure and heart attack. Fire crackers during Diwali results in noise pollution and is uncomfortable for the sick, pregnant, senior citizens and infants. Ensure the prohibition of bursting crackers in silence zones and where the sick, pregnant, senior citizens and infants are residing.

• Special care to vehicles: Avoid damage to your car from firecrackers by either parking in commercial parking lots or by booking a parking lot in advance; you can also park your car in a closed garage or park where people are unlikely to burst crackers. Ensure that your vehicle windows are closed and always carry a portable fire extinguisher.

• Choose appropriate dress: During Diwali, people love to wear new clothes but ensure that you and your family members are not wearing long or loose clothes while lighting diyas or candles, bursting crackers or throwing them at other people. Loose clothes like saree, dupattas, synthetic clothes, and long hair can also lead to a fire. It is recommended that you wear well-fitting cotton clothes. Children should be supervised at all times during the festival because they are more prone to mishaps. Silk or polyester clothes must be strictly avoided as they can stick to the skin due fire injuries.

• Don’t Drink: Don’t drink alcohol if you are dealing with fireworks and never throw firecrackers carelessly or burst crackers in crowded areas.Candles and Diwali diyas can be used to decorate your home for Diwali, but ensure that it rests securely on a surface which will not melt or burn.

Apart from all the above mentioned cautions, one has to be prepared for emergency. Ensure that diyas or candles are not near any flammable material like curtains, table covers, furniture, wood, cloth or paper. The awareness campaigns or sessions can be provided in order to bring down mishaps and injuries caused by fireworks. A little care and precaution from you can prevent fire accidents during Diwali and make it jolly rather than a folly.

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Role of Apartment Owners Association in preventing fire accident

• Apartment Owners Association and Residents Welfare Association (RWA) can play vital role in preventing fire during Diwali or festival celebration. Restrict residents from burning crackers from balconies, staircases, lobbies, lawns.

• Never let the children burst crackers without an adult supervision.

• Apartment owners association can print or issue a notice which can contain the set of rules or guidelines for celebrating Diwali festival in apartment community.

• Designate open space and safest surroundings for lighting crackers.

• Ensure an Emergency evacuation plans or building evacuation plans to prevent fire mishaps in apartment community and hold mock drills to create awareness on procedures to be followed in times of an evacuation.

• Ensure that fire-fighting equipment are in good working conditions and paste evacuation plan in common areas of apartment complex.

festival oflights is celebrated with much zeal and fervor all over India. It is one of the important festivals of India and marks the victory of good over evil or light over darkness. Diwali is celebrated by lighting diyas, candles, burning crackers, decorating the home for Diwali and sharing sweets with family and friends.The dark and gloomy nights are filled up with lights and lightnings which brings joy & happiness. Though the celebration and the festive mood fills up everyone, yet the chances of mishap onsets with it which might ruin the festive spirit. A little bit of care and precaution can prevent fire accidents and makes your Diwali jolly rather than making it a folly.