October 23, 2020 by Ms Crichton

Bonfire Night and Fireworks

The Child Accident Prevention Trust has issued some guidance on how to have a fun filled bonfire night with no fireworks . However if you do plan to buy your own fireworks they have produced some guidance on how to do that as safely as possible.

Firework-free fun for the family

We could all do with a bit of magic this year. But with organised displays cancelled due to the restrictions, you may be asking yourself: ‘Is fireworks night cancelled this year?’

Do not fear, there are ways to make it good fun, bring the family together and make lovely memories, no fireworks required!

Celebrations without the risk

Bring back some of the foody delights from your childhood – toffee apples, honeycomb, Parkin cake to name but a few. You could dip breadsticks in melted chocolate and sprinkles for your own edible fireworks. Get the BBQ out for hot dogs and marshmallows, rinsed down with hot chocolate. And don’t forget the jacket potatoes in tin foil!
Why not go old school with apple bobbing. One of the oldest Bonfire Night traditions and it couldn’t be simpler to do. Just fill a basin with water and throw in some apples. Then grab an apple out with just your teeth (spoiler alert: leave the stalks on to make it a bit easier for the littlies). Get the kids to ask grandparents what games they used to play and bring them back to life with your family.
Put the Guy back into Guy Fawkes Night – you might not be burning him on a massive bonfire, but you can have fun with the kids making your own Guy with old clothes and stuffing him with paper. Tell them the Guy Fawkes story as you stuff!
Get creative with the littlies – splashes of paint on black paper make a beautiful fireworks display. Or paint toilet roll tubes and use orange or yellow tissue paper for the rocket.
If sparklers are part of your staple, it’s best to wear gloves and have a bucket of water handy for spent sparklers, so no-one is tempted to pick up a used one.
Children under five are too young to handle sparklers themselves.
When everyone gets too cold or too tired, cuddle up on the sofa, turn off the lights and watch fireworks displays on TV – you can find loads on YouTube.

Fireworks – buy safe, stay safe

With organised fireworks displays cancelled this year, many families will be considering their own display. If you are sure this is for you, it’s important to know how to buy and use fireworks safely.

Know your categories

Fireworks are split into four categories:

Category 1 are indoor fireworks.
Category 2 fireworks are suited to family back gardens.
Category 3 fireworks require a minimum safety distance of 25 meters – far bigger than the average family back garden! While non-professionals can buy them, they are designed for large displays.
Category 4 are for professional use only.

Top tips for buying safely

Go to reputable retailers and avoid pop-up shops.
Only buy fireworks marked with safety standards (EN 15947 or BS 7114).
When buying online, look for companies who offer helpful advice about what category of firework to buy. If the seller doesn’t list fireworks categories, find one who does.
Take care buying from online marketplaces. They are not responsible for the safety of the products they sell.
Category 2 fireworks are the safest for normal family back gardens.

Tips for your fireworks display

Supervise children. Have a marker, like a rope, for the children to stand behind at a safe distance from the display.
If the children are dressing up, make sure the costumes have a CE mark and keep them away from flames, sparklers and fireworks.
Store fireworks in a metal box until you are ready to use them.
Use a torch – rather than a naked flame – to read the instructions.
To light a firework, hold it at arm’s length and light it with a taper or firework lighter.
Don’t go back to a firework once it has been lit. Sometimes they can be very slow to get started and may take you by surprise.
It’s best to be fully in control when you’re lighting fireworks. Avoiding alcohol until you’ve set them all off is the safest option.
Never throw spent fireworks onto a bonfire.
The safest place for a bonfire is at least 18 metres (60 ft) away from the house and surrounding trees and hedges, fences or sheds.
When you’re clearing up spent fireworks after the display, make sure anyone who is helping uses tongs or gloves to avoid burning themselves.

Keep in touch for more safety tips www.facebook.com/ChildAccidentPreventionTrust