As bonfire night approaches County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) is reminding people of the dangers and issuing advice about how to stay safe this year.
Fireworks can seriously injure and scar people for life if they are not treated with care. It is important that they meet safety standards and they should also be stored properly.
Andrew Allison, community safety manager for (CDDFRS), said: “The smart way to stay safe is to go to an organised display. You’ll see a lot more fireworks and it’s a lot cheaper. If you are planning to use fireworks at home then please follow the firework safety code.”
12 steps to staying safe – The Firework Code
1. Only buy fireworks over the counter from reputable retailers.
2. Don’t drink alcohol if setting off fireworks.
3. Keep fireworks in a closed box.
4. Follow the instructions on each firework carefully.
5. Light them at arm’s length using a suitable taper.
6. Stand well back.
7. Never go back to a lit firework – if it hasn’t gone off it could still explode
8. Never put fireworks in your pocket.
9. Never throw fireworks.
10. Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves.
11. Never give sparklers to children under five.
12. Keep pets indoors – most animals get very scared by the lights and noise.
Things you will need on the night
• 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
• Only one person should be responsible for letting off fireworks
• Make sure everyone stands well back
Sparklers can reach temperatures of up to 2000 degrees Celsius so please…
• 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
• Never throw spent fireworks on a bonfire
• Take care around bonfires – all clothes, even those labelled ‘low flammability’ – can catch fire
• If a firework does not go off, leave it for at least 30 minutes and then place it in a bucket of cold water. You will need to use something heavy like a brick to keep it under the water. Leave for a minimum of 24 hours and then place the wet firework in a plastic bin bag and tie the bag closed. Do not dry the firework out or take it out of the bag, they need to stay wet. They can now be disposed of in a normal bin.
Andrew Allison said: “By following this important advice and remembering the Firework Code, we hope that everyone can enjoy any bonfire events they are planning or attending next week.”
CDDFRS has produced two videos featuring advice to help everyone enjoy a safe bonfire night. Please view via the following links:
https://www.ddfire.gov.uk/how-dispose-fireworks-safely-video
https://www.ddfire.gov.uk/fireworks-home-dos-and-donts-0
