PARENTS are being given safety tips to celebrate Diwali, which is usually enjoyed with traditional firework and light display.
This year the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) has linked with Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to remind parents to follow a few basic safety precautions so that the festivities go with a bang and without a burn.
Fireworks make a party at home feel extra special, but they can reach temperatures of 1,000 degrees, the same as some industrial furnaces - last year, nearly 40 children under 16 were admitted to hospital because of fireworks.
Diyas and candles mark this special occasion but they also bring with them the risk of fire.
Children’s skin is more delicate than adults’ so burns can be more severe for them. Some burns mean children need skin grafts and in serious cases they can lead to years of painful surgery and result in irreversible scarring.
Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive of the CAPT, the UK’s leading charity working to reduce the number of children and young people killed, disabled or seriously injured in accidents, said: "Diwali is a wonderful time and we want to make sure that families and friends enjoy it safely by following some simple advice. Don’t let the festival of lights turn into a nightmare with a trip to the hospital. May every family have a very happy Diwali."
CAPT offers this advice about candles and fire safety:
Candles can get hot enough to melt plastic, so keep children safe and free from burns by following this straightforward advice:
Keep matches and lighters where young children can’t see them or reach them
Never leave a child alone with a Diyas or candle and never leave in a child's bedroom
Lit Diyas and candles are best placed:
Out of the reach of children – and of pets
On a heat-resistant surface, in a stable holder and on a level surface
Out of draughts, away from curtains, other fabrics or furniture, which could catch fire
With at least one metre (three feet) between the candle and any surface above it, for example don't put them under shelves as there's a lot of heat above a burning candle
With at least 10 centimetres (four inches) between any two candles
Keep candles away from clothes and hair
Make sure you put candles out before moving them and don't let anything fall into the hot wax, like matchsticks
When putting out candles:
Ensure candles are extinguished before leaving a room and before going to bed
Use a snuffer or a spoon to put them out, blowing can send sparks and hot wax flying
Double-check they are completely out and not still smouldering, which could still burn
CAPT advice about keeping children out of harms way at home fireworks displays:
Supervise all children carefully and keep them well away from the fireworks and fires
Don’t rely on older children to supervise younger ones as they are likely to be distracted by the fireworks
Avoid dressing children in loose or flowing clothes that could catch alight easily
Don't allow a child to handle fireworks and remember a spent firework as it still hot enough to burn
Sparklers can reach temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees centigrade - 20 times the boiling point of water, following is some important advice to follow:
Don't give sparklers to children under five, they are too young to safely hold a sparkler and don’t understand why they might be dangerous
Never hold a baby or child if you have a sparkler in your hand
Always supervise children using sparklers
Teach children not to wave sparklers near anyone else or run while holding them
Make sure children holding sparklers wear gloves and hold them at arm's length, away from their body
Used sparklers can still be very hot, so put them hot end down in a bucket of water once they’ve gone out to stop anyone picking them up again Before the display, when buying fireworks, make sure they comply with BS 7114 and are clearly marked for their intended use "Indoor, Garden or Display" and check they are suitable for the size of garden. It is also advisable to read the instructions in daylight and keep fireworks in a closed box or tin.