Bonfire night safety

National Burns Week launches this November as people across the nation begin to light up bonfires, sparklers and fireworks to celebrate Bonfire Night on November 5th.

Bonfire night celebrates the foiling of Guy Fawkes’ gun powder plot to blow up the House on Parliament in 1605. The tradition of lighting a bonfire and watching fireworks brings people together and is great fun but it is important to remember that fireworks are essentially explosives that burn at very high temperatures and can be a danger to everyone, not least children.

So if you’re having a bonfire or fireworks at home in the garden this year, read on to find out what steps you can take to keep you and your family safe.

Bonfire Safety

Bonfires need a lot of organisation and can be dangerous if not planned well. If you do decide to have a bonfire follow these guide lines to make sure it runs smoothly and singe-free.

• Don’t over stack your bonfire or make it too large to control

• Check immediately before lighting that there are no animals or a young child hidden inside or nearby

• Never use flammable liquids like paraffin or petrol to get it going as this can result in uncontrolled spread of fire or an explosion

• Never put fireworks on a bonfire and don’t burn dangerous rubbish (e.g. aerosols, paint tins or foam-filled furniture)

• Make sure spectators are kept well back to prevent flying embers catching alight on clothing

• When it’s all over the bonfire needs to be put out completely – don’t leave it smouldering as it could catch light again

Keep sparklers in safe hands

Sparklers can get up to six times as hot as a pan of cooking oil. Follow these tips to make sparklers stay in safe hands:

• Light sparklers one at a time and always wear gloves

• Supervise Children and never give sparklers to a child under the age of five - they will not understand how to use them safely

• Never hold a baby or child if you have a sparkler in your hand

• Plunge finished sparklers hot end down into a bucket of water as soon as they have burnt out as they can stay hot for a long time

• Don’t take sparklers to public displays. It will be too crowded to use them safely

• Avoid dressing children in loose or flowing clothes that could potentially catch light

• Store sparklers in a closed box in a cool, dry place

This article was published on Mon 2 November 2009