Safe firework displays

Introduction
This website is dedicated to helping you have a safe and enjoyable experience of fireworks.

The DTI says "The number of injuries caused by fireworks each year is relatively low" . Since 2005 they no longer collect separate statistics but numbers were usually under 1000 and falling. Two thirds of injuries are to those under 18 and over three quarters are to males. The lesson from that would seem to be boys under 18 are at greatest risk.

Whilst that is basically good news, it isn't if you were one of the thousand injured. The Safety tips page uses accident statistics to highlight risk areas and identify strategies for reducing risk. It would be great to see the number of injuries reduced still further and the best way to do that is by better understanding of the risks. There are hundreds of thousands of fireworks parties in the UK each year and hundreds of millions of pounds spend on fireworks, regrettably there could be some accidents.
Fireworks contain explosives and potentially dangerous chemicals, but handled properly fireworks manufactured to the approved standards present less of a risk than many other aspects of normal life. RoSPA report total annual UK accidents (requiring hospital attendance) of about 6 million, 70,000 of these are while shopping! By comparison fireworks accident figures look quite low, most of those occurr in the few days around Guy Fawkes night. Even for that busiest week fewer than 1% of hospital accident department attendances are fireworks related.

The aim is for an exciting colourful and maybe noisy display. We want you to have a great time, a good party, no tears! Whereas most fireworks safety information is a long list of DON'Ts we want to offer some DO's as well. OK some of the DO's may be DON'Ts worded differently!

• Do buy your fireworks from a reputable dealer. Avoid those traders that open up temporary premises for a month and are never seen again. They are often selling sub-standard fireworks. Those may fail, explode or ignite without giving sufficient time to get to a safe distance. Those suppliers will lack the experience to advise you on the best products to buy to achieve the kind of display you want. They may illegally sell powerful fireworks normally restricted to qualified explosives professionals.
• If you are sure you can store them safely buy your fireworks a few weeks in advance - that way you get the best choice and the retailer has the time to give you more advice than is the case in early November. Buying in advance gives you time to plan more carefully how you are going to arrange the display and to read the information about the individual items. If you don't have safe storage you may still be able to buy in advance but arrange delivery or collection closer to the date of the display.
• Do think about your local community, invite neighbours to join in rather than just disturbing their evening with unexpected and unwelcome noise. Warn pet owners and farmers if their animals may be affected. Have the display soon after dark, don't wait till midnight when everyone's asleep. OK, New Year's Eve is the exception! If noise is a problem then consider buying low noise packs.
• Do think about the needs of your kids and elderly family members. Make sure they are warmly dressed in non flammable clothes including gloves and hat (Natural fibres are safer than man-made fabrics). Think in particular about footwear, cold wet feet can spoil the experience.
• Young kids are sometimes frightened by fireworks, make sure in advance that they know there are going to be loud noises and flashing lights. Have some ear-plugs or mufflers available, kids have more sensitive hearing than adults and what we find exciting they can find painful. Consider buying low noise packs.
• An elderly relative might find the cold of a November night a bit too much so take a hot water bottle and a flask of hot chocolate.
• There is a tendancy to think a party requires alcohol. Well don't forget the alternatives. Honestly it is possible to enjoy yourself without alcohol! Creamy rich coffee, hot sweet tea, maybe with some added warming spices. How about a non-alcoholic (or low alcohol) hot spicy punch. Hot chocolate drinks. Warming strong flavours are what people want in November.
• Don't forget those traditional foods to help ward off the cold. Parkin and bonfire toffee. Chocolate cake might not be traditional but it will be welcome!
• Part of the overall experience is the planning and preparation. The kids will enjoy helping with cooking, get them making chocolate fridge cake. Then of course there's the Guy to make and pumpkin carving... It's a chance for the kids to join in and create something and feel part of the event.
• Outdoors and cold - the popularity of the Bonfire has declined but it's nice to be able to get a bit of warmth - what about a barbecue? Try to make sure it's well illuminated and don't be afraid to pre-cook in the oven just finish off on the barbecue to get that special flavour and the smells. And don't forget jacket potatos dripping with butter.
• Why not combine going to an organised public display with a party afterwards at someone's house, maybe with some garden fireworks too. Do remember that on Guy Fawkes night the roads can get clogged so maybe you can meet up at a friends house and walk to the display and back for a party afterwards? The pubs near a public display will be packed solid, your own party will be better.
• If the audience is going to be predominantly young kids and/or elderly persons they will probably not appreciate noisy fireworks. Ask your retailer to put together a selection of relatively quiet but colourful fireworks.
• If you have a mixed audience you could reserve the noisy fireworks for the end so the young and elderly can enjoy most of the display but then move away if it becomes too noisy for them.