City admn ready for safe & happy Diwali

The fire brigade and health departments are well prepared to tackle any emergency situation coming their way on Diwali on Thursday.

The fire brigade and health departments are well prepared to tackle any emergency situation coming their way on Diwali on Thursday.

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Though the Jalandhar municipal corporation (MC) have already passed directions to fire staff to remain extra vigilant during the festive season, considering the fact that majority of fire incidents are reported on Diwali night, special preparations have been made to face any eventuality.

As many as 15 fire tenders of various institutions, including that of the district administration and the MC, have been kept ready at different fire stations to deal with an emergency.
Mayor Sunil Jyoti said firefighters at various fire stations across the city had been directed to remain extra vigilant during the festive season.

Besides the corporation has cancelled the leave, holidays and day off of the firefighters till Diwali and they have been put on 12-hour duty on rotation basis.

Guard for injuries

Since firecrackers not just have potential to cause burns or damage ears and eyes, pollutants like sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, manganese and even cadmium — a highly toxic metal known to cause cancer — emanate from it.

“Cases of eye injury caused by fire crackers are on rise during Diwali, because of so many new and unfamiliar firecrackers entering the market every year,” Dr JS Thind.

Besides adversely affecting our health, the burning of fire crackers gives a hard time to the people suffering from asthma, who find it hard to breathe, says various studies conducted by Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.

Since the level of noise pollution is already high in Jalandhar as per the standard set by the Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi, fire crackers could easily irritate the sensitive airways of asthmatics and trigger a severe asthma attack. Experts suggest that even a few hours of exposure to pollutants can worsen lung disease and cause asthma attacks.

Jalandhar civil surgeon Dr RL Basan says: “Celebrate the festival of lights with lamps. Taking little precautions like refraining from indulging in sweets is small steps that you can take to save yourself from probable health risks.”

Pets get stressed

Dr Kirti Dua, professor of veterinary medicine at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, said animals might become stressed and manifest signs like shaking, trembling, excessive drooling, barking, howling, trying to hide, refusing to eat food, etc. Some animals may lose bladder or bowel control or experience temporary diarrhoea.

At times, mischievous elements tie crackers with the tail of dogs or burn dogs by throwing burning crackers at them as a result dogs are injured seriously and require prompt attention.

He suggested that during fireworks keep animals indoors and to avoid expose them to smoke of crackers that might cause severe respiratory distress. “To make pets comfortable in the house, close the curtains and increase the volume of radio or TV to defuse the sound of crackers,” he added.


Do’s and Dont’s:--


Do’s

---Adults must supervise children at all times



---Do not use unfamiliar fire crackers



--Wear protective eye wear



--Avoid synthetic clothes and wear cotton clothes



--Practice safety while lighting crackers do not try to be foolishly daring


Don’t

--Do not rub your eyes.

--Use the corner of a soft clean cloth to draw particles out, or hold the eyelids open and flush the eyes continuously with water.

--If a particle is large or stuck in the eye, do not attempt to remove it.

--Keep eyes closed and go to the eye doctor immediately.

---If there is a burn put it immediately under running water and put some antiseptic on it

Total number of burn injuries last year: 27



In case of any emergency call 108 for Ambulance, 101 for Fire Brigade and 100 for the police help from any landline or mobile phones.