Niamh McGroarty | Reporter
With Halloween having come and gone, bonfire night is just around the corner. As fun a night it can be watching the sky illuminate with bright colours in wonderful patterns, it is still crucial to stay as safe as possible. Its easy to be distracted by the luring displays of vibrancy yet they are deadly if not handled correctly. To stay safe during this time keep in mind these safety warnings:
Attend Organised Demonstrations:
If possible, try to attend organised firework displays organised by local scout halls etc. By doing this, you greatly minimise the dangers that can be brought when trying to set off firework yourself Leaving it to organised displays allows for a fun, enjoyable, stress and danger free night.
Be Careful of Sparklers:
Sparklers can be equally as fun as can be dangerous thus you must remember to wear gloves while handling when lit. In addition, keeping them at an arms length from you and any one else at all times will ensure that a fun night is had by all. Certainly don’t use any sparklers if at organised demonstrations – there will undoubtedly be too may people to use them safely. If the decision is made to purchase sprinklers, children must be over the age of 5 and at that still have close supervision. Once the sparkler is finished, remember to submerge in water immediately as they can still be extremely hot when finished and still pose a risk of burning.
Storage of Fireworks:
Keep all fireworks stored away from any flammables such as petrol, oil, paint and away from any sources of heat like heaters, naked flames etc. It is also crucial to keep these dangerous items in packaging they were received in i.e. tough strong cardboard boxes
Igniting Fireworks:
Light the firework from an arms length away with a taper or a long tipped lighter, keeping your face and hands as far away from fuse as possible. Light only if the firework is on a flat surface within clear distance from anything flammable and always keep buckets of water close by pre-filled incase of any mishaps or malfunctions.
Guy Fawkes night is an incredibly fun celebration and following these simple guidelines will result in happiness all round, therefore allowing us to remember, remember the fifth of November for many years to come.
