Bonfire Night Safety

Remember remember the 5th of November… 

That time of year where the sky fills with lovely, bright (and loud) colours. 

Bonfire night can be great fun and a chance to get together with friends and family. However, it is important to ensure you celebrate bonfire night safely. I’m sure most of you have seen photos of injuries caused by firework misuse. 

Most schools will have organised a talk on firework safety but just as a reminder, I’ve created a short guide on firework laws and safety. 

Here are the laws surrounding the use of fireworks 

• You must not set-off or throw fireworks in streets or in public places.
• Only approved retailers can sell fireworks. These are the only people you should purchase fireworks from. 
• The only fireworks you can buy are category 2 or 3 (this will be displayed on the label). Category 4 fireworks can only be bought by trained and licensed professionals and are not suitable for personal use. 
• You have to be 18 or over to purchase and set off fireworks. 
• You cannot set off fireworks or sparklers between 11 PM and 7 AM. The only exception is bonfire night, Chinese New Year, New Year’s Eve and Diwali during which you can set fireworks off up until midnight.

Some local councils may also have their own rules about fireworks so it is worthwhile checking with them as well. 

Misusing fireworks is punishable by a fine of up to £5000, 6 months imprisonment or a £90 on the spot fine. If you cause property damage or injure somebody you can also be held responsible for this. 

To ensure you can celebrate bonfire night safely, here are some things to consider 

• Keep fireworks in the box until you are ready to use them 
• Follow the instructions carefully 
• Watch from a safe distance 
• Keep fireworks at arm’s length 
• Do not consume alcohol and light fireworks
• Never check on a lit firework that has not gone off 
• Wear gloves when holding sparklers
• Put any used sparklers in a bucket of water (remember they will still be hot) 
• Keep pets indoors (more on pets later in this guide) 
• Be considerate towards your neighbours who may dislike fireworks (especially neighbours with pets or young children) 
• Consider attending an organised display instead

Pets 

Animals are frightened of the noise from fireworks so it’s important to keep them safe and calm on Bonfire Night and there are lots of easy ways you can do this.

Here are some tips on how to look after any pets on Bonfire Night. 

• Do not leave pets in the house themselves.
• Keep pets indoors. If your pet usually lives outside consider bringing them in for the night or keep their cage or pen covered. 
• Ensure doors and windows are secure so that your pet can’t escape if they are frightened. 
• Have the television on or play some music to distract them from the noise 
• Keep the curtains and blinds closed so that pets are not startled by any bright lights or flashes 
• Make sure there is a safe place for your pet to hide. Most animals tend to want to hide or cower away when frightened or distressed. This should be a quiet and secluded area. 
• Tire your dog out by taking them for a long walk during the day. They will be more likely to rest at night or may even sleep.