Although great fun can be had by all on Bonfire Night, it’s one of the busiest times of the year for the emergency services. If you’ve not prepared in advance and don’t have the necessary precautions in place to prevent accidents and injuries on November 5th, you could find yourself facing a medical emergency.
However, if you are organising a bonfire event and do plan ahead, you can help all your guests to be careful and stay safe.
The basic bonfire preparations
The most important part about any bonfire event is to make sure you choose your space carefully. A bonfire should be positioned well away from all buildings, sheds, fences, trees, and hedges. You should also check to make sure there aren’t any overhead power lines nearby either.
Be careful how a bonfire is built. Wood should be stacked securely so as to avoid debris falling out sideways, or having the bonfire collapse unexpectedly. A sturdy bonfire is essential to prevent unnecessary injuries.
To be on the safe side, you should always mark out a wide, clear area around the bonfire, preventing spectators from coming too close and risking an accident.
Watch what you are going to burn too. You should never use flammable liquids (like petrol) and never put aerosols, cans, paint, or foam furniture onto a fire.
Always have buckets of water, a hose pipe or fire extinguishers at the ready to prevent the fire getting out of control. And don’t neglect the end of a bonfire. Pour water on the embers to cool them down and prevent anything re-lighting.
Avoiding firework injuries
Fireworks are lit rockets, and if you’re not careful they can cause serious injuries that will require urgent first aid and immediate specialist medical attention.
Once again, make sure you are well prepared for your event, with safety precautions in place. This is the best way to ensure first aid treatment is not required.
You should have the necessary equipment and tools on-hand to make the lighting of fireworks as safe as possible. This includes:
Fireworks should also be stored securely at all times, ideally in a closed metal box. Always purchase fireworks from a legitimate, reputable provider, and check they conform to British Standards BS7114. Many firework injuries are the result of fake, badly made explosives.
Before you begin to light fireworks, double check the wind direction. You need to ensure that all fireworks will be pointing away from where your spectators are.
Remember: never return to a lit firework.
Sparkler safety
Children love to play with sparklers on Bonfire night, but they’re one of the most common causes of accidents and injuries on November 5th. A sparkler can burn at up to 2000°C, five times hotter than cooking oil.
Insist that anyone handling a sparkler wear gloves. This will help to minimise any potential burns to the hands. Sparklers should also be held at arms length, and you should never run around whilst holding one, or wave them near people.
Be wary of loose and flowing clothes too, which could catch fire. When sparklers are finished, plunge them into a bucket of water straight away, as the ends can stay hot for a long time.
If you’re organising a big event with a number of spectators, it’s likely to be too crowded for sparklers to be used safely.
First aid treatment for sparkler and bonfire burns
If someone at your event does get burnt, these are the emergency first aids steps you should follow.
If clothing catches fire:
Treating burns:
All burns should be seen at the hospital unless they are very small and minor. This includes any burns on the hands, feet and face, anything bigger than the size of your hand, and any scalds on children.
Some important points to remember:
Dealing with an eye injury
Always have a designated first aider, and someone responsible for calling the emergency services if necessary. If you need to brush up on your first aid skills, Aid Training can help. Call us on 01985 878379 to find a suitable course for you.