Firework Displays should be spectacular and safe

Firework displays should be enjoyable and spectacular events, but they should also be safe. Government statistics show that each year approximately 1000 people have required hospital treatment after being injured by fireworks. Of those 1000 people, 5% have had to stay one or more nights in hospital.

The sale of fireworks is restricted to the periods of 15 October to 10 November, 26 December to 31 December, the day of the Chinese New Year and three days immediately beforehand and Diwali and three days immediately beforehand. Only licensed suppliers can sell fireworks outside those periods. In addition there are curfews on the use of adult fireworks. Generally fireworks can not be used between 11 pm and 7 am apart from 5 November (12 midnight – 7 am), New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year and Diwali (all 1 am – 7 am).

Organisers of public firework displays need to plan carefully to ensure that people attending displays are safe. Organisers need to:-

• Mark entrance and exit points clearly and, if possible, keep pedestrian and vehicle routes apart.

• Use stewards to guide people into the safety zone and off the site when the display’s finished and brief them on what do to in an emergency.

• Signpost the first aid point.

• Contact emergency services and the local authority.

• Create a safety zone for people attending where spent fireworks will not fall and fence the zone so that people know where to stand.

• Check wind direction and weather conditions.

• Clear rubbish from the site.

• Bonfires should have a sound structure and should not be close to the firework display. Before lighting, organisers need to check that no animals have managed to get inside. Petrol or paraffin should not be used to light the fire as they can result in an explosion or an uncontrolled spread of fire.

• Fireworks should not be re-lit and people lighting the fireworks should keep away from fireworks that have failed to go off.

• Spent fireworks should be cleared and disposed of safely. Any fireworks that didn’t go off after at least half an hour can be doused with a bucket of water. Ask the fire brigade for advice if you are unsure whether they are safe to handle.

• Consider public liability insurance – look for an insurance company with a track record of covering firework displays.

If you attend a public display and are unfortunate enough to suffer injury, please contact Lawson West on 0116 212 1000 or complete one of the on-line forms or text ‘accident’ to 07968 888857 and we’ll call you back.