Tip of the Month: Fireworks Safety

Fireworks Safety Tips

As we head towards firework season we’ve put together our top ten firework safety tips and also some sparkler safety tips that we hope you will find helpful.

In 2014/2015 NHS statistics recorded that 4,506 people attended hospital with fireworks-related injuries, many of which were children:

1. Make sure you buy fireworks from reputable retailers.  All instructions should be in English and fireworks should conform to British standard BS7114, which should be clearly written on the box

2. Consider attending an organised display, like Downend Round Table Fireworks, far fewer people are injured at professional displays

3. Keep fireworks in a closed box and use one at a time

4. Keep naked flames (including cigarettes) away from fireworks

5. Ensure spectators are located sufficiently well back, pay particular attention to the direction of rockets

6. Sparklers cause more injuries than fireworks and get five times hotter than cooking oil.  Sparklers should only be used by the over 5’s, wear gloves when holding them, held at arm’s length when lighting and pop into a bucket of cold water when finished with

7. Never use paraffin, petrol or methylated spirits to start bonfires

8. Site bonfires away from shed’s and fences and check the wind direction before lighting

9. Visit ROSPA for more information and some great video clips on firework safety

10. Spare a thought for pets, its’ estimated nearly half the dogs in the UK are scared of fireworks, visit the RSPCA for some great advice on fireworks safety for pets

Sparkler Safety for Children

Please take a moment to view this video we shared last year. Sparklers cause significantly more injuries to children than fireworks themselves resulting in a significant number of burns.  A sparkler can reach 2000 degrees, that’s more than 15 times the boiling point of water and will burn instantly on contact with skin.

Here are a few tips:

• Sparklers should be used by children over five years of age
• Gloves should always be worn when handling sparklers
• Light sparklers one at a time and keep them at arm’s length
• Have a bucket of cold water available to dispose of sparklers once they go out

Danny Street, Director