HYDERABAD: With Diwali approaching, hospitals in Hyderabad are preparing for firecracker-related injuries, while doctors have warned that careless handling of crackers could cause burns, permanent eye damage and respiratory complications.
EMRI Green Health Services and Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital have positioned ambulances in districts to transport emergency cases to Hyderabad.
Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital has earmarked 20 beds for patients with firecracker injuries and placed teams of doctors, nursing staff, support staff and ambulance drivers on standby.
Hospital superintendent Dr P. Modini said the hospital had received 116 and 115 patients with cracker injuries during the previous two Diwali seasons. Of them, 33 suffered grievous injuries and 83 sustained simple injuries, while 10 required admission. Children and adults accounted for an almost equal share of the injured, and most injuries were caused by mirchi bombs.
She advised people to burst crackers only under adult supervision, wear cotton clothes instead of loose or flowing garments, and choose open spaces where there is enough room to maintain a safe distance.
Doctors also cautioned that firecracker smoke could aggravate asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly among children, senior citizens and those with existing respiratory conditions.
Dr Madhuri Patil, consultant ophthalmologist at a private hospital in LB Nagar, said flying sparks and explosive particles could cause injuries ranging from minor irritation to serious corneal damage and permanent vision loss. She advised people not to rub an injured eye or apply home remedies. In the event of chemical exposure, the eye should be gently rinsed with clean running water, followed by immediate medical attention. Suspected penetrating injuries require urgent treatment without applying pressure on the eye.
Dr E. Ravindra Reddy, senior consultant pulmonologist, said firecracker smoke could trigger coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathing difficulties. People with asthma and COPD, he said, should avoid areas with heavy smoke, minimise outdoor exposure during peak cracker-burning hours and keep their prescribed inhalers handy.
Doctors also urged people never to hold lit crackers in their hands or attempt to relight crackers that fail to explode. Families should keep water and basic first-aid supplies ready and seek immediate medical help for serious burns, eye injuries and breathing difficulty.
Dr P. Shiva Kumar, senior consultant and head of emergency medicine at a private hospital, advised cooling burns under running water for 20 minutes. He said ice, toothpaste, oil and turmeric should not be applied to burns. Blisters should not be broken, and the affected area should be covered loosely with a clean dressing.
Dr Sudhir Prasad, senior pulmonologist at Malakpet, said fine particulate matter released by crackers could travel deep into the lungs and worsen existing respiratory conditions. He advised people to avoid heavily polluted areas and seek medical attention for persistent breathlessness or wheezing.
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