A carbide gun that will not fire. A boy bends over to look inside. In an Indian Journal of Ophthalmology study of 37 patients from October 2025, that is how most carbide gun eye injuries happened: at home, while inspecting the device after it failed to ignite.
Diwali is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. If a firecracker burns skin or hits an eye, what you do in the first few minutes matters. For a burn, cool it under running water for about 20 minutes and put nothing on it. For the eye, do not rub it, rinse gently with clean water if a chemical went in, and get to an eye hospital fast. Here is the full first aid plan.
How serious are firecracker injuries in India?
Serious enough that eye hospitals count them every year. At AIIMS Delhi's RP Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, doctors treated 190 firecracker and carbide gun related eye injuries during Diwali 2025, about 19% more than the 160 in 2024. The same report says about 45% of the patients had open globe injuries, most were young males up to age 20, and 97 of the 190 (51%) were hurt on Diwali day itself.
A multicentre study from Central and Western India, published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, followed 67 firecracker eye injury patients across Diwali 2023-24: 62.7% were children, 34.3% were bystanders, 23.9% needed surgery, and more than 40% arrived with very poor vision (worse than 6/60). The median time to reach the hospital was 6 hours. The average estimated cost was Rs 31,500 per patient.
The 2025 carbide gun cases were worse. In the 37-patient study, all were male, the median age was 15, and 64.8% had severe burns of the eye surface.
What should you do first for a firecracker burn on the skin?
Move away from the fire, then start cooling the burn. The table below follows WHO and NHS first aid advice.
What should you do if a spark, powder or carbide gun hits the eye?
First rule: do not touch or rub the eye. The NHS advises that you do not touch or rub your eye until it is better. What you do next depends on what hit it.
Speed matters, and doctors treat these injuries as urgent. In one hospital series of 18 carbide gun patients, all received immediate eye irrigation. In the 37-patient series, early amniotic membrane transplant was done in 81%. Do not wait to see if the pain settles.
When should you go straight to the hospital?
For burns, the NHS says to get emergency care if the burn is very large or deep, is on the face, genitals or bottom, or was caused by acid, a chemical or electricity. For the eye, any of the signs in the table above is enough.
- Call 112, India's single emergency number, integrated with police, fire and health helplines, or your local ambulance number.
- Do not drive yourself. Ask someone else, and carry any medicines the person takes.
- Go to an eye hospital for eye injuries, not just a chemist or a clinic.
How can you lower the risk this Diwali?
The studies point to a few clear habits.
- Watch the bystanders. In the multicentre study, 34.3% of the patients were bystanders, not the person lighting the cracker. Keep children and onlookers well back.
- Do not look into a device that failed to fire. This is how most carbide gun injuries in the 37-patient series happened.
- Keep children away from carbide guns. AIIMS doctors called them a new hazard and asked for a ban on hazardous carbide-based and home-assembled crackers.
- Supervise every child. The multicentre authors called for supervised firecracker use.
Smoke is the other Diwali problem. If your throat is scratchy afterwards, read After Diwali Smoke: Do Steam, Warm Water and Honey Really Help Your Throat?. For everyday eye care, see Eye Health Water: Nutrition for Screen-Tired Eyes.
Can I put toothpaste, ghee or ice on a cracker burn?
No. WHO says not to apply ice, oils, butter, toothpaste, traditional pastes or other household substances to a burn. Cool it with running water instead.
Should I wash my eye after a cracker injury?
It depends on what hit it. If a chemical got in, the NHS says to rinse gently with clean water for at least 20 minutes while help is on the way. If something hit the eye hard or has pierced it, do not try to remove anything. Either way, do not rub, and get to emergency care.
How long should I cool a firecracker burn?
About 20 minutes under running water for smaller burns, according to WHO. Very large or deep burns, and burns on the face, need emergency care.
Are carbide guns safe for children?
No. The 2025 study found severe burns of the eye surface in 64.8% of 37 patients, with a median age of 15. AIIMS doctors called them a new hazard.
If you are keeping sealed water bottles at home for Diwali guests, Amaayu's functional waters are one option.
This article is general information, not medical advice. A burn or eye injury needs a doctor. Do not delay medical care for any of the steps above.
