Tag: firework code

SFRS teams up with children’s burns specialist to deliver stark firework safety warning

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has joined forces with children’s burns specialists to drive home the importance of staying safe around fireworks.

During just a four week period last year, 46 people attended hospital for treatment after being injured by fireworks.

According to the statistics compiled by the Care of Burns in Scotland partnership, nearly half of those treated required plastic surgery or specialist health care. 

SFRS staff have been visiting schools and community groups across Scotland to lay bare the dangers of misusing fireworks.

Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Kenny Barbour is the SFRS Head of Prevention. He said: “Every year we witness people who have been injured by fireworks. Fireworks are explosives and people need to understand how dangerous they can be. 

“We would always urge people to attend an organised public display where possible, but where they can’t, they should always read the Fireworks Code before buying or using fireworks.

“A little knowledge can go a long way to keeping people safe.”

Sharon Ramsay, Clinical Nurse Specialist for Paediatric Burns at the Scottish National Burns Centre, based at the Royal Hospital for Children, has seen the devastating impact of fireworks firsthand.

She said: “Every year around Bonfire Night, we treat children with serious injuries caused by fireworks and sparklers. These can be life-changing, especially in older children who’ve lit fireworks while holding them.

“We’ve seen blast injuries to hands, faces, and eyes, some resulting in permanent disability.

“If you’re using fireworks at home, please keep children indoors and behind closed windows where they can safely enjoy the display.

“It’s not just the 5th of November that’s risky. We often see more injuries in the two weeks following Bonfire Night, when young people get hold of leftover fireworks and use them unsupervised with friends.

“If you’re storing fireworks for another occasion, like New Year’s Eve, please keep them locked away and out of reach of children.”

You can find all key safety information, including the Fireworks Code, on the SFRS website. You’ll also find a full list of organised public displays.

Bonfire night safety fears after 42% rise in fireworks-related incidents

  • Home Office data shows 2024/25 saw 42 per cent increase in firework incidents compared to 2023/24 
  • 3,500+ incidents linked to human error since 2010 
  • Organised displays remain the safest option   

As an increasing number of organised fireworks displays across the UK are cancelled this year, safety charity the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is warning of increased risks from home-based celebrations.

Cancellations in London, Edinburgh and other locations come amid a 42 per cent rise in fireworks-related fire incidents, prompting urgent calls for caution ahead of Bonfire Night. New data shows 264 incidents occurred in 2024/25, up from 185 the previous year.   

The figures, drawn from Home Office statistics, highlight a worrying trend in unsafe firework use. Most incidents involved “other primary fires,” which include outdoor fires in bins, grassland, and vehicles, likely caused by improper handling or disposal of fireworks.  

Fireworks are a leading cause of seasonal fire injuries and property damage in the UK. Despite ongoing safety campaigns, human error remains the primary factor in over 75 per cent of incidents.  

Organised events offer safer – as well as more spectacular – displays.  However, anyone intending on using fireworks at home should remember the following important safety tips:   

  • Only adults should handle fireworks  
  • Avoid alcohol if you are lighting fireworks  
  • Store fireworks in a closed box  
  • Always light fireworks at arm’s length with a taper  
  • Never return to a firework after lighting   
  • Direct rockets well away from spectators.  
  • Always buy fireworks with a CE or UKCA mark  
  • Sparklers burn at extremely high temperatures and must be handled with care.  

Rebecca Guy, Senior Policy Manager at RoSPA, said: “Fireworks are powerful explosives, not toys. Only adults should handle them and never mix alcohol with lighting fireworks.

“Store them safely in a closed box, light at arm’s length with a taper, and never go back to a lit firework. Always buy CE or UKCA-marked products, aim rockets away from people, and remember sparklers burn at extremely high temperatures — treat them with care.   

“The shocking rise in incidents over the past year is a stark reminder of the dangers they pose when misused. We strongly advise families to attend organised displays wherever possible, as they are far safer than home-based celebrations.”    

Find more firework safety advice on the RoSPA website.  

Keeping children safe this firework season

As Bonfire Night approaches, make sure you know how to keep you and your family safe.

Nearly half of firework injuries happen to children.

Always follow the Firework Code and read instructions before use.

Find more safety advice here ➡️bit.ly/fireworksafety2024

Scottish Fire & Rescue Service: Fireworks Safety

It is safer, better for the environment and often less expensive to attend organised public firework displays.

Fireworks and the law

It is illegal for the general public to use fireworks before 6pm or after 11pm (this extends to midnight on 5 November and 1am on Hogmanay, Chinese New Year and Diwali). It is illegal for adults to buy or supply fireworks to anyone under the age of 18 – with the exception of F1 fireworks.

Examples of F1 fireworks include party poppers, novelty crackers and certain sparklers.  The category of firework is legally required to be displayed on product packaging.

If you are unable to attend an organised display, we would ask you to consider the impact of fireworks on people and animals. It is often children rather than adults who are injured by fireworks.

The noise and lights that fireworks emit can also be overwhelming for people with a sensory impairment and those with neurological differences such as autism. Animals can also find fireworks particularly distressing.

Check back here for details of organised events across Scotland. We strongly encourage anyone who does wish to host a private event to familiarise themselves with our firework code and fire safety guidance.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO ORGANISED BONFIRE EVENTS IN EDINBURGH

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Remember, remember The Firework Heroes Code

This week, as Bonfire Night celebrations take place, HELP for HEROES are calling on the British public to practice ‘The Firework Heroes Code’. We want people to be more mindful of the negative impact that fireworks can have on veterans and others.

Professor Colin Preece, Wellbeing Manager for our Hidden Wounds team, says, “The vast majority of the veterans that we support for mental health issues tell us that they don’t like fireworks.

“It can be the bangs and the flashes, but also the smell of fireworks can be a massive trigger for them. These stimuli can remind veterans of bad moments they experienced in combat and make them relive traumatic events in their lives. It can be particularly problematic for those with PTSD.”

The Firework Heroes Code

  • Be mindful – think about the impact fireworks can have on people (and animals) nearby
  • Go to planned public fireworks displays – rather than set off fireworks at home
  • Give neighbours advance warning – it can be as simple as a message on a local WhatsApp or Facebook groups. If you are having fireworks at home this gives those near you the chance to create a coping strategy
  • Go silent – consider using the new generation of ‘silent’ fireworks
  • Give support – if you think someone has been affected by fireworks, make them as relaxed and as comfortable as possible and encourage them to reach out for professional help.

Former Senior Aircraftsman in the RAF, Matt Neve, explains why this code is so important: “The planned public events aren’t so bad, and the new silent fireworks are a good idea. It’s the unexpected bangs of fireworks in people’s homes or in the street that take me right back to where my trauma began and triggers my PTSD.

“Hearing them makes me fearful and angry but I also have a physical reaction as I shake and my heart races. I have to take myself out of the situation and sit somewhere quietly, take deep breaths and compose myself to bring myself back to the ‘now’.”

Many people look forward Bonfire Night and it is a big event in the calendar, but not everyone enjoys them, and that goes for pets too. ‘The Firework Heroes Code’ is a really simple way to ensure that you minimise the impact of your own event on others – so we can all feel comfortable at this time of year.

We understand that reaching out for support can be difficult. If you are a veteran or loved one and need support, we are here for you.