A guide to staying safe on Bonfire night

< Back to blog

A guide to staying safe on Bonfire night Posted On 01 November 2019

Bonfire night can be one of the most exciting nights of the year and for very good reason. It’s a night filled with pretty firework displays, traditional bonfire treats and cosy hot drinks. However, it’s important to stay safe.

Whether you’re attending a firework display or celebrating at home, it’s important to remember that there are certain things you should and should not do

You should:

Build your bonfire far away from your home•stand far enough away from fireworks and the bonfire
Make sure an adult checks the bonfire for hidden animals•have a bucket of water nearby for emergencies
Keep your beloved pets inside during the celebrations
Remember to wrap up warm

You should never:

Return to a firework after it’s been lit
Let off fireworks after 11pm, (or midnight on the 5 Nov), as it’s illegal
Build a bonfire near to any trees, fences or your home
Leave before ensuring the fire and surroundings are put out
Pour petrol or paraffin on the fire

Firework safety

Firework displays can be great for the whole family.They can also be very dangerous, so here are a few tips on how to stay safe:

Only adults should; set up firework displays, light fireworks and safely dispose of them
You should only buy fireworks which show the CE mark
Read and follow the instructions
Use a taper to light the fireworks
Have a bucket of water at hand
Use a board or other non-flammable rigid surface for flat-bottomed fireworks
Stand at a safe distance whilst fireworks are going off

Fun with sparklers

Find somewhere safe and open
Make sure you wear gloves when handling sparklers
Sparklers shouldn’t be given to children under the age of five
Hold the sparkler away from your face and body
Never touch the end of the sparkler
Once it’s no longer burning, put it in a bucket of water

Bonfire night stats

4, 436 people used the NHS A&E services for firework related injuries in 2017/2018
Around half of all firework injuries happen to children under the age of 16 (gov.uk)
Over the past five years over 350 pre-school children have been hospitalised due to firework injuries (UK fire service)

Tips to help keep your pets safe

Bonfire night can be a very scary night for your furry friends. According to the RSPCA, 45 percent of dogs show signs of fear when they hear a firework set off. So, to help, we’ve put together a few useful tips to keep them safe and happy.

If you have a dog, make sure you walk them in daylight hours before the fireworks start
Close all your windows and curtains, to help muffle the sound
Put the telly or radio on to provide distraction
Create some hiding spaces around the house and if they do hide under furniture, leave them there
Make sure your pet is micro-chipped in case they escape
For small animals, partly cover their cages with blankets: this will help with soundproofing

< Back to blog

Connect with us

View by date

Extended loans for landlords with imperfect credit record

A new product introduced by a loan company can help landlords with a questionable credit rating A new product line from West One Loans dubbed W3 is available up to 65% LTV and includes two options: a 6.84% five-year fix with a 4.99% charge and...

This year will see better-than-expected mortgage lending

A large number of mortgage brokers across the UK have predicted an increase in mortgage lending throughout this year, contradicting official forecasts Last year, when borrowers tightened their belts in response to fast rising living expenses, ...