17 October 2006
Be careful and considerate with fireworks this year – that’s the message from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service as 5 November approaches. Its community safety team is urging everyone to follow the bonfire night safety code, and appealing to young people in particular not to misbehave with fireworks.
Terry Ridgley, head of the community safety team, said: “We receive dozens of bonfire and firework calls in the weeks before and after 5 November. As well as exposing people to unnecessary risks, there is always a danger that these incidents will reduce the level of service we can provide to the public for emergencies such as house fires and road accidents.”
He added: “Watching fireworks can be great fun, but figures show that more often than not, it’s children rather than adults who get hurt by fireworks. In recent years 1,000 people a year have required treatment at hospital casualty departments nationally, with 50 of these described as serious. Please don’t be one of the statistics.”
As well as trying to make everyone safer, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service wants to remind youngsters of the trouble they can get into by misusing fireworks.
It is an offence to throw fireworks in the street, and anyone found guilty is liable to a fine of up to £5,000. It is also an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to animals, with a penalty on conviction of a fine of up to £5,000 or up to six months in prison. There is a curfew on the use of fireworks is between 11pm and 7am, except on 5 November, New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year and Diwali night.
Terry said: “Everyone at Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service wishes you an enjoyable bonfire night – but please make sure it’s a safe one too.”
If you are organising a firework event and you notify Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service in advance, you will be sent a letter of acknowledgement and general bonfire and firework safety information. Ring 01296 744477 or send an email to cs@bucksfire.gov.uk
Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service has teamed up with Thames Valley Police to organise a firework and arson safety quiz in secondary schools in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire. Click HERE to enter it.
The firework code
· Only buy fireworks marked BS 7114
· Don't drink alcohol if setting off fireworks
· Keep fireworks in a closed box
· Follow the instructions on each firework carefully
· Light them at arm's length using a suitable taper
· Stand well back
· Never go back to a lit firework
· Never put fireworks in your pocket
· Never throw fireworks
· Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves
· Never give sparklers to children under five
· Keep pets indoors
Firework factfile
- Sparklers reach a temperature of up to 2,000°C
- A rocket can reach a top speed of 150mph
- At family back-garden displays, sparklers cause more injuries than air-bombs, bangers, rockets and roman candles combined
- Half of all firework accidents happen to children under the age of 16
- Three sparklers burning together generate the same heat as a blow-torch
- Hands and eyes are most at risk in firework accidents
- Most firework accidents are caused at family back-garden displays, closely followed by incidents in the street
For more information and downloadable leaflets, visit http://www.berr.gov.uk/fireworks/index.htm