Fireworks   The smart way to stay safe is to go to an organised display.  You’ll see a lot more fireworks and it’s a lot cheaper!   If you do decide to use fireworks at home then please follow the advice below.   12 Steps to Staying Safe – The Firework Code

1. Only buy fireworks marked BS 7114.
2. Don’t drink alcohol if setting off fireworks.
3. Keep fireworks in a closed box.
4. Follow the instructions on each firework carefully.
5. Light them at arm’s length using a suitable taper.
6. Stand well back.
7. Never go back to a lit firework.
8. Never put fireworks in your pocket.
9. Never throw fireworks.
10. Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves.
11. Never give sparklers to children under five.
12. Keep pets indoors

When you can use fireworks during celebrations You can let off fireworks :

• until midnight on Bonfire Night
• until 1.00 am on New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year

  Before your firework display 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 or with a CE mark – this shows that the firework meets British or European safety standards (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 Finally, follow these other rules for a safe 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

  Fireworks and the Law   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 If you are under 18, you can't:

• buy the types of fireworks which can be sold only to adults
• have fireworks in public places

If you do, the police can give you an on-the-spot fine of £80.   When you can use fireworks during celebrations You can let off fireworks :

• until midnight on Bonfire Night
• until 1.00 am on New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year

  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 three months. You may be liable for an on-the-spot fine of £80.   When you can buy Fireworks   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.   There is a Trading Standards ‘Firework Hotline’ you can contact during the Guy Fawkes celebrations:   03000 260913   Animals and Pets It is against the law to cause any unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animal. The penalty if found guilty is either imprisonment up to 51 weeks, or a fine of up to £20,000, or both.   Keep your pets indoors to keep them safe and to reduce the noise of the fireworks.   Bonfires   The Fire and Rescue Service advise you not to have a bonfire as Fire can spread easily and can cause injuries.  Calls to the Fire and Rescue Service and the Police from annoyed neighbours or concerned passers-by are a drain on resources and may delay attendance at ‘real emergencies’.   If you do decide to have a bonfire, where and how you build your bonfire is important as fire can spread rapidly.  If you have a bonfire, follow these simple guidelines:

• warn your neighbours beforehand - they are much less likely to complain
• light the bonfire at a time least likely to affect your neighbours - eg not on a warm day when people will be in their garden
• only burn dry material not damp, which causes more smoke
• build the bonfire away from sheds, fences and trees
• check there are no cables - like telephone wires - above the bonfire
• don’t use petrol or paraffin to get the fire going – it may get out of control quickly

  Bonfire Safety Tips Once the bonfire is lit, make sure you:

• keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby - in case of emergencies
• don’t leave the bonfire unattended
• keep children and pets away from the bonfire
• don’t throw any fireworks into the fire
• don't burn aerosols, tyres, canisters or anything containing foam or paint - many produce toxic fumes and some containers may explode, causing injury

Once the bonfire has died down, spray the embers with water and make sure it is completely extinguished before leaving it.