Staying safe on Bonfire Night
Everyone loves the wonder and excitement of Bonfire Night, especially children. Whether you’re heading to a huge display, going to a friend’s garden, or creating your own display, always remember the safety of yourself and others when it comes to bonfires and fireworks. Each year a lot of preventable accidents occur due to a lack of safety measures when using bonfires, fireworks and sparklers.
Here are some tips for making it a memorable night (for the right reasons) for both yourself and your children:
Bonfires
- Keep children at a safe distance at all times
- Make sure your bonfire is away from fences, sheds and trees
- Never leave a lit bonfire unattended
- Have a bucket of water or a water hose nearby
- Never throw sparklers or fireworks into the bonfire
Fireworks
- Children must be supervised at all times
- With children, we suggest they wear ear-defenders or ear muffs, as the fireworks can be very loud, especially to younger, more sensitive ears
- Keep well away, set a boundary that people are not allowed to cross
- Always read the firework’s instructions
- Never go near a firework that has been lit
- Make sure fireworks are set in sand or firm soil, aiming at the sky, not buildings
- Keep pets indoors
Sparklers
- Sparklers should be lit one at a time
- A sparkler can get as hot as 2,000°C, so make sure you and your children wear gloves
- It’s recommended that children under the age of 5 should not use sparklers
- Children must always be supervised when using sparklers
- Don’t let children run around when holding a lit sparkler
- Don’t hold young children or babies if you’re holding a sparkler, just in case they try to touch it
- Make sure finished sparklers are put in a bucket of water
Have a great night and have fun, but most of all, stay safe!
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