Have a Safe Bonfire Night

South Bucks District Council is urging people to stay safe – and within the law – as Guy Fawkes Night arrives.

The Council wants to encourage children and young people to be aware of and take responsibility for safety around fireworks, and encourage residents to attend organised firework displays rather than holding their own displays.
Organised displays can provide a community focus and are often more exiting and last longer than fireworks set off at home. Residents who will be setting off their own fireworks should follow these simple points for a safe and enjoyable night:

• Only buy fireworks marked BS 7114
• Keep fireworks in a sealed box, use them one at a time, and replace the lid. 
• NEVER put fireworks in your pocket. 
• Read and follow the instructions carefully, use a torch, NOT a naked flame. 
• Light fireworks at arms length, use a taper or firework lighter stand back. 
• NEVER return to a firework after it has been lit, it could explode in your face. 
• Always supervise children around fireworks. 
• NEVER throw fireworks. 
• Only ever hold specific fireworks such as sparklers but don’t give them to under fives, wear gloves to hold them and dispose of them in a bucket of sand or water as soon as they are finished. 
• Keep all pets and animals indoors.

In the rush to get out and have a good night it is easy to forget and overlook pets, however it is important to take a moment to consider their needs. Spare a thought for pets and livestock in the area and follow these tips from the RSPCA:

• Use low noise fireworks if you think your event is in an area where animals may be in the open.
• Keep your own animals indoors or sheltered.
• Don’t fuss over or show anger to your pet if they become frightened
• Don’t walk your dog at hours fireworks are likely to be going off
• Keep fireworks away from livestock and horses in fields or close to buildings housing livestock

Organiser’s of firework displays can find further guidance on the following links:

• Health and Safety - Fireworks
• For more specific advice for different pets please go to the RSPCA website at www.rspca.org.uk and follow the pet care link.

Keep people on the right side of the law:

• The age limit for buying fireworks is 18 and it is illegal to sell them to anyone under that age. Since the end of 1997 it has been against the law to sell or supply bangers, aerial shells, air bombs, mini-rockets and some types of larger Roman Candles to the public.
• It is illegal to split up retail packs of fireworks and sell them individually. Many of the instructions for using the fireworks safely are printed on the packet and not on the individual firework.
• It is also illegal to let fireworks off in a public place, so please keep your fireworks in your garden.
• It is against the law to sell fireworks from premises which are not licensed by the Council. Selling fireworks "out of the back of a van" is illegal, as is selling them at car boot sales.