Remember, Remember the fifth of November

Bonfire Night party and safety tips

Planning on firing up the fireworks in your back garden come the 5th of November, or heading off to your local Bonfire Night display?

Whatever your plans, the professional domestic cleaners, MOLLYMAID, are fizzing with bright ideas for making sure children and adults alike have a blast on Bonfire Night.

Bonfire parties at home

• Number of fireworks: You need to have a realistic number of fireworks – if you have too many, people get bored and more importantly careless. This is when accidents tend to occur. If guests are bringing fireworks with them, ask them to bring a maximum of three (for instance) so you don’t end up with heaps to let off.
• Timing: This is crucial. It starts to get dark by 4pm,nevertheless people still start parties from 7pm onwards. MOLLYMAID suggests that in order to include the children in the occasion and avoid them becoming too cold and crabby, think about starting parties much earlier. The party can always go on for longer, but at least the children have had their fill of excitement without too many tears.

• Children: Give children wind-up torches or glow-sticks, so they don’t get scared in the dark and can find their way to the loo or to the house. Consider buying noise-reducing headphones for children under three to avoid damaging their hearing.

Set the Firework Drill for everyone:

• If responsible for incendiary activities, consider wearing ahead torch for lighting your way, so that you have two hands free for the action.
• Stand well back.
• Keep pets indoors.
• Keep fireworks in a closed box.
• Only buy fireworks marked BS 7114.
• Light at arm’s length, using a taper.
• Follow the instructions on each firework.
• Never give sparklers to a child under five.
• Children should wear gloves when holding sparklers and never waive above their waistline. Sparklers can reach a temperature 20times that of boiling water.
• Don’t drink alcohol if setting off fireworks.
• Always supervise children around fireworks.
• Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them.
• Never go near a firework that has been lit – even if it hasn’t gone off it could still explode.
• Before you buy, check what it says on the box about the fireworks’ ‘clearance distance’ – there’s no point in shelling out for rockets that need 30m if your garden is only 10m.

Bonfires

The same rules apply to bonfires as fireworks: keep children at a safe distance. Site your bonfire away from fences, trees and sheds, and, if possible, somewhere sheltered from gusts of wind.

Once it’s lit, don’t leave the bonfire unattended and have a bucket of water or hose nearby, in case of emergencies.

Throwing fireworks or sparklers into the fire is a seriously dangerous idea.

Finally, once the bonfire has died down, spray the embers with water to prevent them reigniting.

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