FIREWORK SAFETY
PLEASE
TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THROUGH THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES.
YOUR PLANNING AND
ACTIONS COULD HELP PREVENT AN INJURY.
1.
Store the fireworks safely in a closed box, somewhere cool and dry, out of reach
of children and animals, until they are needed. Don't keep the box under the
stairs or in a passageway.
2.
Pets hate bangs and flashes and get very frightened on fireworks night. So keep
all your pets indoors and close 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.
3.
Think ahead and be prepared. Before you start, make sure you're giving yourself
enough room in a safe place to get to and from your box of fireworks while the
display's going on. Have a full bucket of water handy for any emergency, and for
putting used sparklers into. If you have the chance to get together with some
other families, try to go to the home with the biggest garden and the safest
surroundings.
4.
Do you really need a bonfire? It's much safer without one. But if
you insist make sure that it's well away from your house and any trees, hedges,
fences or sheds. Never use a flammable liquid like petrol or paraffin to get one
going. If lighting your bonfire is difficult, use only domestic fire lighters to
help. Check very carefully that there's no animal (or even a young child) hidden
inside the bonfire. Don't light it until after all your fireworks have been let
off. Keep everyone a safe distance away, and don't allow anyone to throw
anything onto it.
5.
Watch what you wear - Loose clothing (like shell suits) can very easily catch
alight and should never be worn near any fire. Long dangly scarves can be risky
too. If anyone's clothing does catch fire, follow the rule...........STOP, DON'T RUN, DROP TO THE GROUND
& ROLLOVER TO PUT THE FLAME OUT.
6.
One at a time please, you (or another adult that you choose) must be the only
person letting off fireworks. Don't allow anyone else - especially children - to
do so while your display is going on. Let the fireworks off one at a time and
don't rush. Light the tip of each firework at arm's length, using a safety
firework lighter or fuse wick. If one doesn't go off, DON'T
GO BACK TO IT
as it could still be live, and could go off unexpectedly in your face. Right at
the end of your fireworks night, douse the 'dud' with lots of water, then
completely bury it in the ground and cover it well. Alternatively, keep it
soaking in a bucket of water and ask your Fire Brigade for advice as soon as
possible. NEVER
THROW A FIREWORK ONTO A BONFIRE.
7.
Different fireworks mean different hazards. Read the instructions on each one
carefully (by torchlight and never with any sort of naked flame) and follow
them properly. Rockets, for instance, should be launched from a rocket launcher,
not from a bottle. Sparklers need careful handling. Light them one at a time at
arm's length - DON'T
GIVE ONE TO ANY CHILD UNDER 5.
Make sure that anyone holding a sparkler wears gloves and put each used one into
a bucket of water as soon as it has gone out.
8.
No fooling. Putting a firework in a pocket is stupid and dangerous. Throwing a
firework is stupid and dangerous and illegal. It's a criminal offence to do
so in a street or other public place, with a maximum penalty of a £5000 fine.
9.
Fireworks and alcohol don't mix. Drinking alcohol presents an added
danger when there are fireworks and bonfires around. So keep strict control of
your guests' drinking during the display. You could consider not having any
alcoholic drink available until after your fireworks have been let off.
10.
WATCH
THAT CHILD!
Keep children well away from fireworks, and never let a child handle or light
one. Even sparklers can be dangerous if unsupervised. Make sure that children
are aware of the dangers.
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