Firework Safety Information

Facts and Figures

Watching fireworks can be great fun for children, though figures show that more often than not, it's children rather than adults who get hurt by fireworks.
Over the last five years over 350 pre-school children, some as young as one year old, were treated in hospital for firework injuries.
1,160 people injured by fireworks in 2004 - an increase for the third year running.
Almost half of those injured are under the age of 18.
Rockets, air bombs, roman candles and sparklers are the fireworks causing the majority of injuries.
Sparklers burn around 2000 degrees centigrade, 24 times hotter than boiling water

Safe Guidelines to follow

Store fireworks somewhere cool and dry and in a closed metal box, away from children and animals.
Choose the place you use to set off fireworks with care and prepare the area beforehand.
Use a taper to light fireworks and light them at arms length.
Use a battery powered torch to see what you are doing.
Stand well back.
Never go near a firework that has been lit. Even if it hasn't gone off, it could still explode.
Always supervise children around fireworks.
Do NOT give sparklers to children under 5 and make sure you have a bucket of water for putting used sparklers into.
Never modify or experiment with fireworks or try to make your own.
Keep pets indoors.