Firework Safety

Fireworks are explosive -
Get wise or get hurt!

This bonfire night your child is more likely to be injured that you

Watching fireworks can be great fun for children. But figures show that, more often than not, it's children rather than adults who get hurt by fireworks. Over the past five years over 350 pre-school children, some as young as one year old, were treated in hospital for firework injuries.

So don't put your family at risk!

Follow our easy checklist for a safe home firework display

Before the display

• Only buy fireworks from a legitimate retailer
• Inform nieghbours and be aware of their concerns
• Check the fireworks you buy are suitable for the size of garden and conform to British Standards (BS 7114)
• Read the instructions in daylight
• One person - clearly indentified - should be responsible for fireworks

Things you will need on the night

• Torch for checking instructions
• Bucket fo water
• Eye protection and gloves
• Bucket of soft earth to stick fireworks in
• Suitable supports for catherine wheels, proper launches for rockets

During the display

• Don't set off noisy fireworks late at night and never after 11pm
• Don't drink alchohol if setting off fireworks
• Light fireworks at arm's length with a taper
• Stand well back and keep others back
• Never go back to a lit firework
• Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them
• Always supervise children
• Store fireworks in a metal box, kept closed between use
• Keep pets indoors

After the display

• Use tongs or gloves to collect spent fireworks

Sparklers

• Unsuitable for children under five
• Light one at a time
• Wear gloves when holding sparklers
• Put used sparklers hot end down into a bucket of sand or water

Bonfires

• Should be at least 18 metres (60ft) away from houses, trees, hedges, fences or sheds
• Use domestic firelighters
• Never use petrol, paraffin or other flammable liquids
• For more information visit the following website

www.fireworksafety.co.uk