Firework Safety Advice
4 November 2014, 13:27 | Updated: 5 January 2015, 12:06
Preparation is the key to enjoying fireworks safely so here are all the top tips you'll need to make sure your event goes with a bang, and is remembered for all the right reasons!
Firework Safety Checklist:
• don’t buy fireworks from anywhere you’re not sure about, like a van or a temporary, unlicensed market stall
• only buy fireworks marked BS 7114 – this is the British Standard that all fireworks should meet (a reputable shop will know this)
• follow the instructions on each firework – read them in daylight or by torchlight, never by a naked flame
• make suitable supports and launchers if you’re setting off catherine wheels or rockets
On the night
Things you will need on the night. It’s easy to get a few household things together, these are:
• a closed metal box to store the fireworks – take them out one at a time
• a bucket of water – to cool sparklers and put out any small fires
• eye protection and gloves
• a bucket of earth to stick fireworks in
• lighting fireworks
Follow these simple guidelines to stay safe:
• only one person should be responsible for letting off fireworks
• don’t drink alcohol if you are setting off fireworks
• light fireworks at arm’s length, using a taper
• make sure everyone stands well back
• never go back to a firework that has been lit – even if it hasn’t gone off it could still explode
Sparklers:
Sparklers are fun, but always:
• supervise children with sparklers and never give them to a child under five
• light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves
• put used sparklers hot end down into a bucket of sand or water
• other tips on the night
Finally, follow these other rules for a safe night:
• keep pets indoors – most animals get very scared by the lights and noise from fireworks
• never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them
• never throw spent fireworks on a bonfire
• take care around bonfires – all clothes, even those labelled ‘low flammability’
Bonfires:
Bonfires present additional hazards when it’s dark. If you must light a bonfire, in connection with a fireworks display, then:
• site well away from houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees and shrubs AND ALWAYS AWAY FROM FIREWORKS
• before lighting the fire check that no pets or children are hiding inside it
• build the stack so that it is stable and will not collapse outwards or to one side
• NEVER use flammable liquids – paraffin or petrol – to light the fire
• don’t burn foam-filled furniture, aerosols, and tins of paint or bottles
• keep everyone away from the fire – especially children, who must be supervised all the time
• for an emergency keep buckets of water, the garden hose or a fire extinguisher ready
• pour water on the embers before leaving