Fireworks
Over the past five years over 350 preschool children, some as young as one year old, were treated in hospital for firework injuries, please remember "Fireworks are dangerous and can be lethal".
The utmost care is necessary in their storage, handling and use, whether you are organising a display for the family, friends or the general public. Humberside Fire and Rescue Service want you to have a safe event - by following some simple do's and don'ts risks can be greatly reduced.
Things You Will Need
- Metal box with lid for safe storage.
- Torch for checking the instructions.
- Bucket of water - for any emergency and for putting sparklers into.
- Protective hat, eye protection and gloves.
- First aid kit.
- Bucket of soft earth to stick fireworks in.
- A board for flat bottomed fireworks.
- Suitable supports for catherine wheels, proper launchers for rockets.
Before The Display
- Store your fireworks safely, in a closed box, somewhere cool and dry, out of the reach of children and pets, until the time they're needed. Locked away is best. Don't keep the box under the stairs or in a passageway.
- Check the fireworks you buy are suitable for the size of the garden and conform to British Standard (BS 7114) and give yourself enough room to get to and from your fireworks box while the display is going on.
- Ensure your display area is free from hazards.
- Read the instructions in daylight.
- One person should be responsible for the fireworks.
- Do not tamper with fireworks.
- Warn neighbours, especially the elderly and those with animals, about your display.
During The Display
- Don't drink alcohol if setting off fireworks.
- Keep all pets indoors and close all the curtains to make things calmer. Remember it's not just your own fireworks that cause distress, so you may need to have your pets indoors on several nights when other displays are taking place.
- Keep fireworks in a closed metal box and take them out one at a time.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions on each firework. Read them by torchlight - never a naked flame.
- Light fireworks at arm's length using a safety firework lighter or fuse wick.
- Stand well back and keep others back.
- Never go back to a lit firework even when it doesn't go off - it could still be live and go off unexpectedly in your face. At the end of the night douse the 'dud' with lots of water and completely bury it in the ground and cover well.
- Keep children under control.
- Never throw a firework especially onto a bonfire. It is illegal, dangerous and a criminal offense to throw a firework in a street or other public place with a maximum penalty of £5000 fine.
- Never put a firework in your pocket.
After The Display
Douse spent fireworks with water and use tongs or gloves to collect them. Place them in a metal container and dispose of them carefully. Check the surrounding area the next morning and remove firework debris.
Sparklers
- Unsuitable for children under five.
- Light one at a time.
- Hold at arm's length.
- Wear gloves when handling. Sparklers can reach a temperature of up to 2000°C.
- Put used sparklers hot end down into a bucket of sand or water.
If You Get Burned
- Keep calm, you can't help if you're panicking.
- Immediately run cold water over the burn for at least 10 minutes. Do this straight away and never rub butter, oil or ointment onto a burn.
- Take off any belt or jewellery that the injured person is wearing, as burned skin can swell.
- Cover the burned area with a clean smooth cloth (like a pillowcase) or cling film, to keep out infection until it can be properly dressed.
- Unless the burn is very small, go to a hospital. If the burn is very serious or the person is (or was) unconscious, dial 999.
- Don't give a seriously burned person anything to eat or drink after the accident, in case there's a need for an anesthetic at hospital.
Advice on safety at firework and bonfire displays can be obtained from your local fire safety section. For more info on how to contact them click here.
Click here for more fireworks safety information on the DTI website.