A simple guide to staying safe on bonfire night
Whether you're putting on a firework display of your own or heading along to a public bonfire event, keeping everybody safe and sound should be the first thing on your mind on November 5th. Bonfire night can be lots of fun for all the family - but it's vitally important that you're aware of all the relevant safety issues.
Clearly, the safest way to enjoy the festivities is to attend a well organised public display - but that's not to say that there aren't potential dangers to be aware of. First and foremost, make sure any children you're with are fully supervised at all times and that your whole group is situated behind the provided safety barriers. Fireworks can sometimes act unpredictably, so barriers are set a safe distance back to cover all eventualities.
Sparklers are always popular on bonfire night but as a general rule you shouldn't let any children under the age of five use them - no matter how much they protest! If your children are old enough to use sparklers then ensure they are wearing gloves at all times and that they only hold the sparkler at the base. The tip of a sprinkler becomes around five times hotter than cooking oil when lit, so while they may look pretty they're not something to be taken lightly. When your sparklers go out, they should be placed in a bucket of water to cool down rather than thrown on the ground.
If you're planning on holding your own private firework display, there are a few important guidelines to stick to:
• Only buy fireworks marked with the BS 7114 safety standard
• Keep your fireworks in a sealable metal box and only remove one at a time
• Wear gloves and eye protectors when letting off fireworks
• Don't assume all fireworks work the same way - follow the individual instructions on each one you use
• Read firework instructions with a torch - using a naked flame is highly dangerous
• Light your fireworks at arm's length using a taper or safety firework lighter
• Retreat to a safe distance once the firework is lit
• If the firework has seemingly failed to ignite, do not attempt to re-light it. Stay a safe distance away as it may still go off
• Keep a bucket of water nearby to douse your used fireworks at the end of your display and then either bury them or place back in your metal container
By being aware of the potential dangers and putting precautions in place to combat them, you'll ensure that you can get on with the important business of enjoying a memorable bonfire night for all the family.
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Make sure to use a torch to read the instructions on your fireworks.
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