Although bonfire night is a night of celebration, using fireworks or watching a firework display must be done so in a sensible manner. Those who don’t could end up putting themselves or others at risk of becoming involved in a firework accident. The less harmful fireworks such as sparklers can be extremely dangerous if they aren’t used correct. A sparkler burns twenty times the degrees of boiling hot water, so if it was to come into contact with your skin, imagine the damage that could be done.
A lot of people choose to go to firework displays rather than carrying them out in their own back yard. In the past there have been traumatic news stories about people who have suffered severe burns as a firework went off when they tried to re-light it because it didn’t work the first time.
Even firework displays can cause injuries if those watching don’t follow the necessary guidelines. There is usually a certain distance that you have to stay away from the fireworks when they are being lit. You also need to be careful when looking up at a firework display because parts of the ignited firework might land in your eyes when doing so.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Trading Standards Officers work extremely hard to enforce legislation to help prevent accidents around this time of year. To prevent yourself or your loved ones from becoming involved in a firework accident this year, you should follow the firework code:
- Don’t drink alcohol if you are setting off fireworks
- Keep fireworks in a safe, closed box at all times
- Make sure you follow the instructions of each firework
- Light at arm’s length
- Stand well back
- Never go near a firework that has been lit. Even if it has not gone off, it could still explode
- Never put them in your pocket or throw them
- Never leave a child unsupervised around fireworks
- Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves
- Sparklers are not suitable for children under five
- Always keep pets in doors
Hopefully your bonfire night will be an evening to remember for positive reasons. If handled carefully fireworks can bring laughter and entertainment to families. However if you do become injured in a firework accident that wasn’t your fault then you may be able to make an injury compensation claim.