With Bonfire
Night and Diwali just around the corner, the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Accidents (RoSPA) is reminding families not to gamble with their safety when
it comes to fireworks.
Each year, RoSPA hears about people being injured by fireworks - about half of these injuries
happen at family or private parties and about a quarter in the street or other
public place. A much smaller proportion - around 10 per cent - of the injuries
happen at large public displays.
It is
important that families have the necessary safety preparations in place if they
are thinking of staging a fireworks party at home. A hastily prepared bonfire
could spell disaster. Fireworks are explosives and should be handled by
responsible adults. Young people should watch and enjoy
fireworks at a safe distance and follow the safety rules for using sparklers.
Data collected across Britain in previous
years shows that, on average, around 1,000 people visit A&E for treatment
of a firework-related injury in the four weeks around Bonfire Night, with half
of the injuries being suffered by under-18s. The minimum age for buying
fireworks is 18 across the UK.
Amy McCabe, whose son
Ben was injured at a street firework display, has called on the public to
choose the safer option of attending an organised display. Ben was
four years old when he was left with permanent scarring after he was hit by a
firework at the display held in a residential cul-de-sac in Glasgow.
Amy said: “At our street
display, all the instructions were followed and the crowd was kept well back
from the display. Don’t think that this sort of accident will never happen to
you - fireworks are an explosive at the end of the day. Going to displays that
are properly organised is the safest option.
“Ben still suffers nightmares
following the incident and is very apprehensive about hot water, candles and
loud bangs. He gets very upset and doesn’t want any other child to go through
what he’s gone through.”
RoSPA’s fireworks website - www.saferfireworks.com - has everything you need to know about
planning a safe fireworks display. It provides details on UK law, tips for
setting up a display and the Firework Code:
- Plan your fireworks display to make it safe and enjoyable
- Keep fireworks in a closed box and use them one at a time
- Read and follow the instructions on each firework using a torch if necessary
- Light the firework at arm's length with a taper and stand well back
- Keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks
- Never return to a firework once it has been lit
- Don't put fireworks in pockets and never throw them
- Direct any rocket fireworks well away from spectators
- Never use paraffin or petrol on a bonfire
- Make sure that the fire is out and surroundings are made safe before leaving.
Sheila Merrill, RoSPA’s public health
adviser, said: “Firework season is always an exciting time of year and it is a
fantastic event for bringing the family together. But we are appealing to
families to ensure that fireworks are treated with respect and are handled only
by adults. Adults can also help children and young people to understand the
dangers, sharing the important message that fireworks are not toys or missiles.
“If you are planning a firework display at
home, good planning is paramount, as is checking to see if your garden is big
enough for the fireworks you are buying.
“The safest place to enjoy fireworks is at
properly-organised displays, but RoSPA recognises that not everyone can attend
such events. If you are planning to have fireworks at home, we urge
people to brush up on the Firework Code to ensure their celebration goes off
without incident. It is important to be prepared and to not leave safety until
the last minute.
“Only buy fireworks from a reputable
retailer and ensure the packaging carries the ‘CE’ mark or is marked with ‘BS
7114’.”
