Safety Precautions To Take When Handling Firecrackers

Photo credit: dreamstine.com

It is that time of the year again when people are scurrying to buy their firecrackers to welcome the coming of the new year with fanfare. Some people prefer to celebrate quietly in the comforts of their homes or with their relatives and friends while some prefer to celebrate with a bang, and I hope not literally.

Firecrackers can be both entertaining and dangerous at the same time. While it is nice to see and appreciate the creativity of how the firecrackers explode to show off beautiful colorful sparkles of lights and sounds, it can also emit dangerous chemicals and cause fire when things go wrong.

If you are one of those who prefer to celebrate New Year using firecrackers, it is best to keep a tab of these tips to ensure a safe, hazard and fire-free New Year celebrations with the ones you love.

• Always purchase firecrackers from known manufacturers with good safety standing.

• Read the laws about firecrackers and know what is legal or not and if possible, stay safe by buying only firecrackers that are allowed by the law.

• Read and follow the manufacturers instructions and warnings on how to safely light and handle firecrackers.

• Keep water or a water hose ready just in case you need to dose of a fire. 

• Do not hold a firecracker when lighting it. 

• Wear a safety goggles. You may look weird or overly dressed for the occasion but the rule of thumb is better be safe than sorry!

• Do not point firecrackers at the audience/

• Do not leave firecrackers in your pocket as they may catch fire and also combust.

• Do not let kids light firecrackers. Never!

With all these safety tips in mind, please be careful and practice extreme caution when handling firecrackers. Avoid using them if you can and settle for the old-fashioned way of welcoming the New Year with loud, clanging noises coming from hitting pots and pans, playing loud music, honking your cars momentarily or simply cheering "Happy New Year."

Be safe everyone and enjoy the coming year!

Down With Pharyngitis Again

I have been inflicted with this condition twice already in a span of 4 months. The bad thing is, I just wake up losing my voice. I am not an ice-cream lover nor enjoy eating sugary and sweet food to make my throat sore but I still get this condition.

My voice is still horrible and broken for 5 days now. I am into medication again and the cough syrup is making me very groggy. I am okay with the twice-a-day antibiotic dosage but I don't know how I am going to survive work tomorrow feeling like this.

I still have my very dry cough and sad to say but I am already getting headaches every time I cough unproductively. The doctor said that a lot of steam can help loosen up the mucous and I will try that today.

I wonder if I got this from my relatives who were here recently. They didn't lose their voices but I did and I was not even going out of the house often. I think I need to crack up my immune system again. I stopped drinking Vitamin C when I took my uric acid medication. I just couldn't take all these pills/tables/capsules anymore. I hope I will be more healthy this year because I have more challenges to face this time.

So people, if you are feeling a sudden ache in your throat, visit your doctor right away. The climate is harsh these days and does not help so avoid drinking cold and eating sweet stuff. Don't strain your voice too much. Gargle with salt water. Drink plenty of fluids. Have plenty of rest. Have steam.

I hope to recover soon. I am back to work tomorrow despite of the lack of voice. I'll be a pantomime show there!