Safe firework displays

None of us want to be injured or to be the cause of injury to another. By following a few simple guidelines we can minimise that risk. And what worse way to end a party than with an injury, especially one you could prevent?

You may think most of the precautions are common sense, you've heard them all before but isn't it worth just checking that there are no new ideas, nothing you've forgotten? On this page we try to break away from the normal list of Do's and Dont's by relating the precautions to specific risk factors.

If we look at some of the DTI accident statistics in more detail we can get a better idea of where the risks lie and that might help focus on problem areas and minimise risks.

One third of injuries are to children under 13.

• That means that we should take particular care of small children.
• Keep them under parental control. Stay close, especially at a crowded public display.
• Be alert, don't get too absorbed in the display yourself and forget the child's needs.
• Don't let them handle fireworks whether used or not (even used fireworks can have residual heat, chemicals and explosives).
• Toddlers are best kept on reins or in a pushchair.
• Dress them in wool, cotton or leather including a hat and gloves. Man-made fibres, plastics and rubber even if not flammable may melt and cause localised but deep burns.
• Children are learning from you and your behaviour all the time. If they see you taking great care over firework handling precautions they will learn that they are important. If they see you taking risks or being careless they will learn that too. When they are older and handle fireworks themselves they will be using what they learnt.

One fifth of injuries are to teenagers.

• Well we know that it's an age group where self confidence, boasting and bravado have not yet been tempered by maturity and common sense! They are less open to observe parental guidance and may even treat warnings not to take certain actions as ideas for what they can do.
• As a parent of a teenager vigilance is called for.
• Encourage them to attend well managed family or public displays.
• Try to participate in Bonfire night activities as a family.
• Let them see you handling fireworks with great care while explaining what you are doing and why.
• Be alert to the possibility of them (illegally) obtaining fireworks.
• Be alert to them attempting to "re-engineer" fireworks, removing the explosives from the casings for example.
• Be aware that the weeks surrounding Guy Fawkes night are the period of greatest risk, most injuries are in the week leading up to November 5th and a couple of days after.
• This age group is more involved than most in the one third of injuries which occurr away from any kind of organised or family fireworks party.

Three quarters of injuries were to eye, head or hand
If you are involved with lighting and handling fireworks:

• Wear leather gloves
• Wear goggles
• Use a helmet
• Don't hold lit fireworks
• Don't return to a firework that appears not to have ignited

The firework type causing the most injuries is the rocket.

• One fifth of injuries are from rockets.
• Make sure any fuse protector is removed before attempting to ignite.
• Make sure the launching tube is solidly mounted and cannot tilt or fall over (strapping it to a firmly embedded wooden stake).
• Make sure nothing could snag the rocket or its stick at launch-time (if you have strapped the launch tube to a wooden stake, the stake should be a little shorter than the tube).
• Don't return to a rocket that appears not to have ignited
• Ensure that rockets are aimed such that the empty casing falls behind the display area, not into the crowd.
• If there are stong or gusty winds ensure that they will not result in rockets being blown toward the crowd.

Sparklers cause 10% of injuries.

• They seem relatively harmless and we hand them to small kids. In fact Sparklers get very hot and stay hot after they have gone out.
• Don't give them to small kids. RoSPA suggest not to under fives. Even that may be too young in some cases and we suggest you treat every child as an individual and consider whether they will act responsibly and obey instructions.
• Only use where there is plenty of space around, no risk of bumping into someone.
• Don't walk or run holding a burning sparkler. Remember it's dark and the ground may be uneven, you could trip.
• Ideally wear goggles but spectacles will offer some protection.
• Wear natural fiber gloves.
• Have a metal bucket to drop the burnt sparklers into, ideally full of sand or water.

One third of injuries are at small private or family parties.

• Put someone in charge of the safety of the display.
• Put another person in charge of igniting the fireworks.
• Ensure that both have read and understood the DTI guidelines and understand that small parties are the cause of many injuries.
• Both should have examined the individual fireworks in daylight beforehand.
• They should jointly plan the event based on the DTI guidelines.
• No active participant should be under the influence of alcohol, prescription medicines with side effects of drowsiness or disiness or illegal substances. Ideally this should apply also to the audience.
• All the fireworks must be Category 2 (garden fireworks designed for smaller displays) there should be none of the more powerful Category 3 Display fireworks (and no Category 4, reserved for use by professional pyrotechnicians only).
• Read the Private displays section of this website.