Piyal Adhikary/European Pressphoto AgencyA you boy packing sparklers at a factory in Saradapalli village, north of Kolkata, in West Bengal.Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is also celebrated with plenty of sound - in the form of fireworks. The noise tends to divide people into two groups: those who say they can't stand them, and those who can't imagine Diwali without them.
For the latter group, here's some tips based on advice from The National Council on Fireworks Safety and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, two consumer groups based in Washington, D.C., and India's Insurance Regulatory and D evelopment Authority:
Always keep a bucket of water handy.
Never allow young children to ignite or play with fireworks. Even sparklers are dangerous, as they can reach temperatures of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,093 Celsius), hot enough to melt some metals.
Don't relight a “dud†firework. Soak it in your bucket of water instead.
Have a “designated shooter,†someone who is not drinking alcohol at all.
The “shooter†should wear safety glasses, and the audience should stay a safe distance away.
Never light more than one firework at a time.
Never point fireworks at another person.
Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse.
Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
Never take unnecessary risks while lighting fireworks â€" don't show off.
Don't wear loose, long or dangly clothing, and avoid wearing silk or nylon, both of which are highly flammable.
And, of course, only light fireworks outside.
The promotion of safety tips by consumer groups and fireworks manufacturers' associations in the United States, like the American Pyrotechnics Association, appears to have paid off: America's consumption of fireworks grew almost tenfold between 1976 and 2007, to 265.5 million pounds. But injuries, as measured per 100,000 pounds of consumption, have decreased by 90 percent, the American Pyrotechnics group reports.
In 2011, nearly 10,000 people in the United States were injured by fireworks, the U.S. Consumer Safety Product Commission reported, and four were killed. While figures on the consumption of fireworks in India aren't readily available, the production and use of fireworks have become so dangerous that various charities encourage people to boycott them altogether. Dozens were killed this fall at an explosion at a firework factory in Tamil Nadu alone.
