Every Diwali, parents ask me: “Doctor, can the children light a few crackers?” I love the festival lights and family evenings — and I also treat the burns, eye injuries and injured fingers that follow a dud cracker, a sparkler waved near a face, or a homemade carbide gun.
Quick answer: Most firecracker injuries in children are preventable. Buy from licensed sellers, light outdoors with adult supervision, keep water ready, never hold bombs or flowerpots in the hand, and never use carbide guns. For a burn, cool under clean running water for about 10 to 20 minutes; seek care early for eyes, hands, face or deep burns.
- Key fact: MoHFW/DGHS firecracker guidelines stress adult supervision, open space, closed footwear and cotton clothes, and warn against carbide guns.
- Key fact: Sparklers look gentle but burn extremely hot and often injure children’s hands and eyes.
- Key fact: Cool running water is first aid — not ice, toothpaste, ghee, oil or turmeric.
- Key fact: Any eye injury after crackers needs urgent ophthalmology care; do not rub the eye.
Why this matters before Diwali
Diwali 2026 is in early November, so planning now helps. Children stand closer to ground chakris and dud crackers, and bystanders are often hurt. Common injuries are hand and face burns, eye trauma from sparks or debris, blast injuries from bombs held in the hand, and hearing damage from very loud crackers. Smoke also worsens breathing for children with asthma. India’s DGHS firecracker safety guidelines (2026) set out clear dos and don’ts for families.
What to watch for
- Sparklers near faces, loose clothes or other children
- Anars, bombs or rockets lit while held in the hand
- Children picking up crackers that failed to burst
- Synthetic flowing clothes, free dupattas, or bare feet near chakris
- Carbide guns (PVC pipe plus calcium carbide) sold or shown online
- Eye redness, pain, watering or vision change after sparks
Prevention and first aid
Prevention: Buy licensed, recent branded crackers (prefer certified green crackers with a CSIR-NEERI QR code where available). Only adults should light fireworks, with children watching from a safe distance — DGHS advises against sparklers for children under 5. Use open space away from buildings and vehicles; light one cracker at a time with a long incense stick; keep a bucket of water or sand ready. Prefer cotton clothes and closed shoes. Never relight duds — douse them with water or sand. Never make or buy carbide guns: they create unpredictable acetylene blasts and have caused severe eye burns and vision loss in children, as reported by AIIMS ophthalmology teams and public health coverage including the BBC. Protective eyeglasses help when standing close; children with asthma should stay indoors when smoke is heavy. For everyday eye habits beyond the festival, see my guide on myopia and outdoor play.
First aid: Move away from unexploded crackers. Cool the burn under clean cool running water for about 10 to 20 minutes (WHO burn first aid emphasises cool water; avoid ice). Remove rings before swelling. Cover loosely with a clean dry cloth or cling film. Do not break blisters or apply home remedies. For eyes, flush gently with clean water for 15 to 20 minutes, do not rub, and go to an eye specialist or emergency department the same evening. For blast injury or heavy bleeding, press firmly with a clean cloth and call 112.
When to seek care
Go urgently for burns on the face, eyes, hands, feet or genitals; burns larger than your child’s palm; white, leathery or charred skin; any eye symptoms after crackers; hand injury near a bomb or carbide device; breathing difficulty after smoke; or a child who looks pale, drowsy or shocked. If you need a paediatric check after a festival injury, I see children at Cygnet Clinic in the evening by appointment — you can book a visit here. Around festival travel and seasonal illness, my rainy season health guide may also help.
Frequently asked questions
Are sparklers safe for young children?
No. Sparklers burn at very high temperatures and commonly cause hand and eye burns. DGHS advises against giving them to children under 5; any use needs close adult supervision and a water bucket nearby.
What should I put on a firecracker burn at home?
Only cool running water, then a clean dry cover. Do not use ice, toothpaste, ghee, oil, turmeric or random creams — they trap heat or raise infection risk.
What is a carbide gun and why is it dangerous?
It is an improvised pipe device that mixes calcium carbide with water to make explosive acetylene gas. The blast can cause chemical and thermal eye burns and permanent vision loss. It is illegal — do not buy, make or allow children to use one.
My child got sparks in the eye but can still see. Can we wait until morning?
No. Sparks and chemical particles can still damage the cornea. Flush gently with clean water, do not rub, and see an ophthalmologist or emergency department the same evening.
Are green crackers completely safe?
They aim to cut particulate and noise pollution versus conventional crackers, but burns and eye injuries can still happen. The same adult supervision and first-aid rules apply.
This article is for general information and parent education, not personal medical advice. Please consult a qualified pediatrician or ophthalmologist for your child’s injury or symptoms.
Sources: MoHFW/DGHS Guidelines for Safe Handling and Use of Firecrackers in India (2026); WHO fact sheet: Burns (first aid); AIIMS RP Centre on Diwali eye injuries and carbide guns (Indian Express); BBC: Carbide guns and eye injuries in children; CSIR-NEERI: Green crackers.
