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Fireworks night is a great time of year for family and friends to get together and have fun. To help you make sure that your fireworks night stays fun, it's worth following some simple safety advice and precautions.
Sparklers are 20 times hotter than boiling water and three sparklers held together can be as hot as a blowtorch
Never give sparklers to children under fives, they are too young to safely hold a sparkler and don't understand why they might be dangerous
Never hold a baby or child if you have a sparkler in your hand
Always supervise young children closely
Don't rely on older children to supervise young ones as they are likely to be distracted by fireworks
Supervise all children carefully and keep them well away from fireworks and fires
Always light sparklers one at a time
Show older children how to hold sparklers - away from their body and at arm's length - and teach them not to wave them at other people or run while holding them
Avoid dressing children in loose or flowing clothes that could catch alight easily, and give children gloves to wear when holding sparklers
Sparklers can stay hot long after they've gone out. Once finished, plunge them hot end down into a bucket of soil or water
Don't allow a child to handle fireworks and remember a spent firework is still hot enough to burn
Steer clear of alcohol if you're running a display
Only buy fireworks marked BS7114 and purchase them from a legitimate retailer
Inform neighbours and be aware of their concerns
Check the fireworks you buy are suitable for the size of garden
Read the instructions in daylight and keep fireworks in a closed box or tin
One person - clearly identified - should be responsible for fireworks
Torch for checking instructions
Bucket of water
Eye protection and gloves
Bucket of soft earth to stick fireworks in
Suitable supports for different types of fireworks
Don't set off noisy fireworks late at night and never after 11.00pm
Don't drink alcohol if setting off fireworks even a small amount can cloud your judgement
Read the instructions carefully, using a torch, never a naked flame
Light fireworks at arm's length with a taper
Stand well back and keep others back
Never go back to a lit firework it may blow up in your face
Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them
Always supervise children
Store fireworks in a metal box, kept closed between use - use one firework at a time and replace the lid immediately
Keep pets indoors
Use tongs or gloves to collect spent fireworks they may still be hot enough to burn you
Should be at least 18 metres (60 feet) away from houses, trees, hedges, fences and sheds
Use domestic firelighters
Never use petrol, paraffin or other flammable liquids
Cool the burn or scald with cold water for at least 10 minutes
Don't touch the burn or pull away any material stuck to it
Cover the burn with clean, non-fluffy material to prevent infection - cling film is ideal
If clothing catches fire, get the person to stop, drop to the floor and roll them in heavy material such as a curtain
Seek medical advice
Further information about firework safety can be found on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) website by clicking here or go to the Directgov website.
For further safety information go to the parents' section.