Safe handling of firecrackers during festivals

1. AWARENESS PROGRAM ON SAFE HANDLING
OF FIRECRACKERS AND FIRST AID FOR SAFER
DIWALI
MR.BRAMESHWARAN M.E(INDUSTRIAL SAFETY)

2. Introduction
FIRE CRACKERS
Firecrackers are generally made of cardboard or plastic,
with flash powder, cordite, smokeless powder, or black powder
as the propellant. This is not always the case, however. Anything
from match heads to kerosene and lighter fluid has been used
successfully in making firecrackers.

3. EFFECTS OF FIRE CRACKERS
It can lead to headaches and reduced mental
acuity. It has much more severe effects in people with
heart, respiratory or nervous system disorders. It can
aggravate problem for people suffering from cold
allergies or coughs and can also cause congestion of
throat and chest.

4. EFFECTS OF FIRE CRACKERS
 Blast or burns with amputation.
 Blast or burns without amputation.
 Eye injury that might lead to blindness.
 Tetanus.
 Poisoning (Ingestion)
 Death.

5. EFFECTS OF FIRE CRACKERS
 Air Pollution –The crackers contains many toxic gases
and chemical compounds which activates after getting
in touch with exposed air and start harming us.
Example Nitrous oxide, which remains in air for long
time if the area doesn’t get heavy rain or strong winds.
 Global Warming – Bursting crackers increase heat,
carbon dioxide and many toxic gases in atmosphere,
which causes rise in temperature of earth and polluted
air leading to global warming.
 Noise Pollution – Loud cracker sound can affect
human directly. Old age people can be suffered by heart
attacks due to the chocking loud sounds.

6. EFFECTS OF FIRE CRACKERS
 Garbage – The residual of cracker after bursting is garbage which
no one takes care of and it affects the environment.
 Fire Accidents – In the cracker market, a small spark can pursue
a huge damage to market, near residence and people available in
that market, also if not handled properly; it may cause injuries
(internal – respiratory and external – burn).
 New born and pregnant women – persistent exposure to loud
noises while pregnancy might trouble the baby (not proven yet).
 Every human being – Inhaling fumes of crackers can increase the
chances of asthma attack. Heart patients and chronic bronchitis
patients come under a high risk of attacks too.
 For Animals –They feel scared and look for a safest place, the
noise of fire crackers make them unstable which leads to shivering,
drooling, howling, psychosis or excessive barking.

7. EFFECTS OF FIRE CRACKERS
 Copper –Irritates the respiratory tracts.
 Cadmium – Reduce capacity of carrying oxygen in
blood, which then leads to anemia
 Zinc – Vomiting and fume fever
 Lead – directly affect our nervous system
 Magnesium – – fume fever by magnesium fume
 Sodium – Highly reactive element in nature can
cause burns or wounds when exposed in air.

9. CHOOSE THE CORRECT LOCATION
 Keep firecrackers outside
 You should only use firecrackers outdoors (including handheld
sparklers).
 Only use firecrackers in open, flat, inflammable, and
sturdy spaces. Some of this advice might seem obvious, but
the statistics suggest otherwise.
 If you’re going to set off legal firecrackers, do it in a safe
place.
 Scout out a location that’s hard and flat—like bare dirt, snow,
concrete, sand, or stone.
 Avoid places with trees, grass, and buildings that could catch
fire.
 Be considerate of noise pollution. Set off firecrackers in a spot
that won’t be too loud for neighbors, veterans, or pets.

10. GREEN CRACKERS
The CSIR-National Environmental Engineering
Research Institute (CSIR NEERI) defines green crackers
as fireworks/ firecrackers made with a reduced shell size,
without use of ash, low usage of raw materials and/or
additives such as dust suppressants to reduce emissions
with specific reference to particulate matter

11. Even green crackers have polluting chemicals
like aluminum, barium, potassium nitrate, and
carbon, but the quantity is so reduced that the emission
is about 30%. Some of the green crackers do not use
these chemicals at all too.

12. ACCIDENTS MAY CAUSE BY WRONG WAY OF
CRACKERS

13. DO’S
 Buy fireworks of authorized/reputed manufacturers only.
 Light only one firework at a time, by one person. Others
should watch from a safe distance.
 Keep the fireworks to be used at a safer place.
 Organize a community display of fireworks rather than
individuals handling crackers.
 Always use a long candle for igniting fire crackers and
keep elbow joint straight to increase the distance between
the body and the crackers.
 Keep two buckets of water handy. In the event of fire,
extinguish flame by pouring water from the buckets. Every
major fire is small when it starts.

14.  In case of burns, pour large quantity of water on the
burnt area.
 In case of major burns, after extinguishing the fire,
remove all smoldering clothes. Wrap the victim in a
clean bedsheet.
 The patient should be taken to a burns specialist or a
major hospital. Don't panicky.
 In case of eye burns, wash the eye with tap water for
10 minutes and take the victim to a hospital.

16. DONT’S
 Don't ignite fireworks while holding them.
 Don't bend over the fireworks being ignited.
 Don't ignite fireworks in any container.
 Don't approach immediately to the misfired fireworks.
 Don't tamper with misfired fireworks.
 Don't attempt to make fireworks at home.
 Don't allow small children to handle fireworks.
 Don't throw or point fireworks at other people.

17.  Don't carry fireworks in the pocket.
 Don't store firecrackers near burning candles and diyas.
 Don't light firecrackers in narrow by lanes; preferably use
open areas and parks.
 Don't wear synthetic clothing; preferably wear thick cotton
clothing.
 Don't wear loosely hanging clothes; secure all clothes
properly.
 Don't apply any cream or ointment or oil on burnt area.
 Don't drive recklessly while taking a burn victim to the
hospital; a delay of up to one hour is immaterial.
 Don't light flying fireworks if there is a heavy wind

19. BURNS & SCALDS
 Burns are injuries that results from dry heat like fire,
flame, a piece of hot meal, the sun contact with wire
carrying high tension electric current or by lightining
or friction.
 Chemical burns are caused by strong acid (sulfuric
acid, nitric acid & etc..)

20. DEGREES OR DEPTH OF BURNS
 1ST DEGREE
 2ND DEGREE
 3RD DEGREE

21. FIRST AID FOR MINOR BURNS
 Clean the area gently with clean water.
 Submerge the burned area with cold water.
 Apply the solution of salt and water in out of the way
places.
 Cover with dry dressing.
 Do not apply to cotton wool direct to the burnt.
 Do not apply any greasy substance.
 Give warm drinks for example sweetened tea or
coffee.

22. FIRST AID FOR SERIOUS BURNS
1.Keep the casually quiet and reassure him
2.Wrap him up in clean cloth.
3. Do not remove adhering particles of charred
clothing
4. Cover burnt area with sterile or clean dressing and
bandage. In case of burns covering a large part of the
body, it is sufficient to cover the area with a clean
sheet or towel.
5. Keep him warm but do not overheat him.
6. If the hands are involved, keep them above the
level of the victim's heart.

23. 7.Keep burned feet or legs elevated.
8. If victim's face is burnt, sit up or prop him up and keep him
under continuous observation for breathing difficulty. If
respiratory problems develop, an open airway must be
maintained
9. Do not immerse the extensive burned area or apply ico-
water over it because cold may intensify the shock reaction.
However, a cold pack may be applied to the face or to the
handsor feet.
10.Shift the casualty to the nearest hospital if he is fit to be
moved.
11. If you cannot take him to a hospital, wait for the doctor to
arrive.
12. Do not open blisters.

24. 13.Keep him wrapped up in clean cloth.
14. Treat for shock.
15. Remove quickly from the body anything of a constricting nature
like rings, bangles, belt and boots. If this is not done early, it would
be difficult to remove them later as the limb begins to swell.
16. If medical help or trained ambulance personnel cannot reach
the scene for an hour or more and the victim is conscious and not
vomiting give him a weak solution of salt and soda at home and
enroute:- One level tea-spoonful of salt and half level tea-spoonful
of baking soda to each quart of water, neither hot not cold. Allow the
casualty to sip slowly. Give above four ounces to adult over a period
of 15 minutes: two ounces to a child between 1 and 12 years of age
and about one ounce to an infant under one year of age.
Discontinue fluid if vomiting occurs. Do not apply ointment or any
form of grease or other home remedy.

25. Thank you