A Diwali safety list for the whole family

Most Diwali accidents we hear about at the shop come from small, avoidable things: a dupatta too close to an anar, a child bending over a flower pot that did not light, a rocket launched from a hand.

Before the first sparkler, set up the space. Keep one bucket of water and one of sand near the area where you will light crackers. Clear away dry leaves, rangoli diyas and parked two-wheelers. Wear cotton, not synthetic, and tie back long hair and dupattas.

Light everything at arm’s length with a long agarbatti, never with a matchstick held close. Once lit, step back and stay back. If a cracker does not go off, leave it for at least fifteen minutes, then pour water over it. Never relight a dud and never pick one up to look inside.

Children should hold only sparklers, and only with an adult beside them. Drop used sparkler wires straight into the water bucket, because they stay hot long after the light stops. Follow the hours your city permits, think of neighbours with pets or elderly parents, and finish the night by soaking all the waste before it goes in the bin.