The Karnataka Education Department has issued guidelines to schools and pre-university (PU) colleges on the safety of children during the Diwali festival. The department said students should be taught how to celebrate the festival safely and about the risks.
Under the proposed awareness initiative, government, government-aided and unaided schools as well as PU colleges will have to conduct safety awareness activities. School heads and teachers have been made more responsible for making students understand what precautions they need to take while celebrating Diwali.
The project aims to prevent accidents involving children (mainly injuries caused by careless use of firecrackers — burns, injuries to hands, face and legs; in serious cases, permanent damage to eyesight).
Schools and Colleges to Conduct Diwali Safety Campaigns
The department has asked schools to run awareness campaigns across educational institutions so that students are made aware of unsafe firecracker use. Teachers and school authorities should also guide students on responsible celebrations and safety measures.
The programme will cover risks of holding firecrackers in hands; carrying crackers in pockets and lighting them at unsafe distances. Students will be told about the need to follow instructions printed on firecracker packs.
Schools will be encouraged to promote environmentally friendly celebrations. Eco-friendly firecrackers and clay lamps (traditional Diwali lamps made from clay) will be promoted as ways of celebrating Diwali that are mindful of environmental and safety issues.
Students to Be Educated About Safe Firecracker Practices
A major focus of the guidelines is to explain how firecrackers should be handled and what precautions children must take before lighting them.
Students will be told not to hold firecrackers in their hands when lighting them. They should never carry crackers in pockets because friction or accidental ignition can cause serious injury.
Teachers will also tell children to stay at a safe distance after lighting firecrackers. Children should not wear loose or highly flammable clothing and should choose clothing that reduces the risk of accidental burns (e.g., tight-fitting, flame-resistant).
Another instruction is about rockets. Students will be told not to aim or point rockets at buildings, houses, etc., as this can cause fires, property damage, and injuries.
First Aid Awareness to Be Part of the Campaign
The education department has also emphasised that students should be taught what to do if an accident occurs while bursting firecrackers.
Schools and colleges should raise awareness of seeking first aid immediately (and medical assistance) in case of burns or other injuries; students should be told not to ignore injuries and inform adults or teachers if an accident occurs.
The campaign aims to make children aware of preventive measures as well as the need to react quickly in emergencies.
Responsibility of School Heads and Teachers
School heads and teachers will be involved in the programme implementation. They should communicate safety instructions clearly and make sure students understand the risks of firecrackers.
The guidelines apply to government, aided, and unaided schools as well as pre-university colleges, so the safety message is sent to students at all levels of education.
With Diwali around the corner, the initiative aims to get families and children celebrating responsibly. The broader message is that festivals should be happy ones but not dangerous ones for kids (risks that can’t be avoided).
Safe practices, environmental awareness, and basic first aid knowledge are what the education department wants students in Karnataka to have so that Diwali celebrations become safer.
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