Fireworks Safety Checklist

Children - including babies and toddlers - suffer over half of all firework injuries and many of these are babies and toddlers. Children's scars may heal but the trauma for them and their parents can last for years.

We want children to enjoy fireworks but they need to know that they can be dangerous if they are not used properly.

Children under five

• Never give sparklers to under fives.
• Never hold a baby or child if you have a sparkler in your hand.
• Always supervise young children closely.

All children

• Supervise all children carefully and keep them well back from the bonfire and fireworks.
• Show older children how to hold sparklers - away from their body and at arm's length - and teach them not to wave them at other people or run while holding them.
• Avoid dressing children in loose or flowing clothes that could catch alight easily, and give children gloves to wear when holding sparklers.
• Steer clear of alcohol if you're running a display or looking after kids.

Sparkle safely

Did you know that sparklers get five times hotter than cooking oil? Sparklers are not toys and should never be given to a child under five.

• Store sparklers and other fireworks in a closed box in a cool, dry place.
• Always light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves.
• 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.
• Remember, sparklers can stay hot for a long time.
• Don't take sparklers to public displays. It will be too crowded to use them safely.

In an emergency

• Cool the burn or scald with cold water for at least 10 minutes.
• Cut around material sticking to the skin - don't pull it off.
• Don't touch the burn or burst any blisters.
• Cover the burn with clean, non-fluffy material - clingfilm is ideal - to prevent infection.
• If clothing catches fire, get the person to stop, drop to the floor and roll them in heavy material like a curtain.
• Get advice from your doctor or accident and emergency department at your local hospital.

There are laws about when fireworks can be sold, and to who - as well as the times fireworks can be set off.

If you are under 18 years of age

• You can not buy the types of fireworks which can be sold only to adults
• You can not have fireworks in public places
• If you do, the police can give you an on-the-spot fine of £80.

Using fireworks legally

It is against the law to:

• Set off or throw fireworks in the street or other public place
• Set off fireworks between 11.00 pm and 7.00 am - except during certain celebrations.

If found guilty by the courts, you could be fined up to £5,000 and can be imprisoned for up to six months. You may be liable for an on-the-spot fine of £80.

When fireworks can be used

You can let off fireworks:

• Until midnight on Bonfire Night
• Until 1.00 am on New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year.

Fireworks for private use, and from a registered seller, can only be sold:

• Between 15 October and 10 November - around Bonfire Night
• Between 26 December and 31 December - for New Year's Eve
• Three days before Diwali and Chinese New Year.

For the rest of the year, you will only be able to buy fireworks from shops that are licensed to supply them

If you think a shop is unregistered, or selling fireworks when they shouldn't, contact your council's Trading Standards Officer. Your council will also have a list of registered sellers.

Preparation is key to enjoying fireworks safely, so:

• Don't buy fireworks from anywhere you're not sure about, like a van or a temporary, unlicensed market stall.
• Only buy fireworks marked BS 7114 - this is the British Standard that all fireworks should meet (a reputable shop will know this).
• Follow the instructions on each firework - read them in daylight or by torchlight, never by a naked flame.
• Make suitable supports and launchers if you're setting off catherine wheels or rockets.

Things you will need on the night

It's easy to get a few household things together, these are:

• A closed metal box to store the fireworks - take them out one at a time
• A bucket of water - to cool sparklers and put out any small fires
• Eye protection and gloves
• A bucket of earth to stick fireworks in.

Lighting fireworks

Follow these simple guidelines to stay safe:

• Only one person should be responsible for letting off fireworks
• Don't drink alcohol if you are setting off fireworks
• Light fireworks at arm's length, using a taper
• Make sure everyone stands well back
• Never go back to a firework that has been lit - even if it hasn't gone off it could still explode.

Sparklers

Sparklers are fun, but always:

• Supervise children with sparklers and never give them to a child under five
• Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves
• Put used sparklers hot end down into a bucket of sand or water

Other tips on the night

• Keep pets indoors - most animals get very scared by the lights and noise from fireworks
• Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them
• Never throw spent fireworks on a bonfire
• Take care around bonfires - all clothes, even those labelled 'low flammability', can catch fire.