In brief: Jersey Fire & Rescue has issued safety guidance ahead of Bonfire Night, warning that fireworks are not toys and urging Islanders to buy only certified products. Key reminders include keeping sparklers away from under-fives, avoiding alcohol when handling fireworks, and soaking used fireworks in water for at least 24 hours before disposal.
Know Your Rockets from Your Risks
With Bonfire Night approaching, Jersey Fire & Rescue is reminding Islanders that a little preparation goes a long way when it comes to fireworks safety. Bailiwick Express reports that the service has urged anyone planning a display to follow straightforward precautions that could prevent a memorable evening from becoming a memorable emergency.
First on the list: buy from reputable sellers. Fireworks should carry either a CE or UKCA safety mark, and should never be handed to anyone under the age of 18. The person running the display should, perhaps unsurprisingly, stay off the alcohol. It is the kind of advice that sounds obvious until you are standing in a dark garden holding a lit rocket and wondering why your depth perception seems off.
Sparklers: Small but Serious
Sparklers, often dismissed as the harmless, child-friendly end of the fireworks spectrum, receive particular attention in the guidance. The service advises that sparklers should not be given to children under five, should be lit one at a time, and should be handled with gloves. Anyone who has ever watched a small child wave a burning metal stick at head height will appreciate why these points bear repeating.
Failed fireworks should never be relit, a rule that exists because the alternative tends to be both dramatic and painful. Used fireworks should be soaked in water for at least 24 hours before being disposed of.
Neighbours, Pets and the Bigger Picture
The guidance also asks Islanders to think beyond their own garden. Letting neighbours know about a planned display is encouraged, as is keeping pets safely indoors. For the many animals in Jersey that find fireworks deeply distressing, a little advance warning to their owners costs nothing and matters a great deal.
“Let’s enjoy the celebrations safely and responsibly,” the service said, in a message that manages to be both sensible and entirely reasonable.
Source: Bailiwick Express
