DON'T BE BLIND..REMEMBER FIREWORK SAFETY (Keeping Your Child Safe from the Outside World)

Member Name: chrissypops

Product:	Keeping Your Child Safe from the Outside World
Date:	03/11/01 (579 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of fun, good food, drink and a merry time by all

Disadvantages: The stupidity of some people

Its that time of year again guys and girls. Loud bangs, pretty flashes of coloured lights, baked potatoes and huddling around drinking mulled wine. But what I want to talk about has a rather serious nature. Fire work safety. Ahh yes, seems so simple doesn't it. Most of us know the rules but do we ever abide by them? Here is some basic statistics from 10 downing street web site as they have just launched the safety campaign for 2001 (http://www.pm.gov.uk/news.asp?NewsId=2752)

972 people injured by fireworks between 14 October and 8 November. 504 of the victims - more than 50% - were under 16

254 people suffered damage to their eyes; 141 of these were children under 16;

104 people were burned by sparklers; Only 12% of injuries happened at organised public displays (119);

most injuries happened at private parties in back gardens, or in accidents in the street (700).

And some more facts from an article from www.ukparents.co.uk

Fireworks cause more accidents to the eye than to any other part of the body except the hands. Eye damage represented 26% of all firework injuries in 2000.

Last year, 254 people were left with eye injuries. Of these, 141 were children under the age of 16 (=56%) .

Teenagers are especially at risk from firework accidents. Last year, 154 youngsters aged 13 to 15 were injured - which was 12 more than the previous year. In total, 36 of them had eye damage (=23%).


The vast majority of firework injuries occur at a family or private fireworks party. In 2000, they represented 43% of the total.
Fireworks most commonly cause burns to the surface of the eye (the cornea) or penetrating injuries which can result in chronic inflammation. Eye injuries in young people can also increase the risk of cataract and retinal detachment in later life.

Fireworks are explosives. A rocket fired from a bottle causes the most injuries.

Every day in the UK, 120 p

eople lose their sight from injury or eye disease. This statistic rises alarmingly around Bonfire Night. Fight for Sight ? which is the UK's leading charity in the battle against blindness - is partnering the DTI in its Fireworks Safety Campaign in a bid to reduce eye injuries from fireworks.

And that's just around bonfire night, just imagine the figures combined for Christmas and New year firework accidents let alone other occasions through the year Like it states up there only 12% of accidents happen at organised parties. That means doing my sums and saying that a whopping 88% of accidents happen at HOME! I have two young children but I wouldnt even consider a home firework display not until they were very much older. But even then I can not guarantee that one of those 972 people who were injured through fireworks could be one of my children. What makes it worse is the minority of teenagers who continue to terrorise people and animals by throwing fireworks just for fun . How sick are these people? I would say, " Don't they know what harm it causes?" Yes, they do, that's how they get their kick you see. To watch elderly people running and stumbling in fear and terror because some waste of life decides that he is bored of life and wants some fun. As for harming animals how would they like it if people like me got hold of them and stuck a sparkler or a rocket up their anus. Or tie them up and throw fireworks at them so they are so burned that they die of burns and shock. Ok, so I wouldnt do all of that, but it makes me fuming to know that there is a sick minority who lives in this world who have no respect for anyone or anything. People tend to forget that fireworks aren't flashy toys for show- offs; they're explosives, and should be treated with respect. Before you start thinking that it's not going to happen to you, consider this. Even though it is illegal to sell fireworks to people under 18, last year over

half of all injuries happened to children under 16. That's a lot of young people who may have horrible scars - for life.


I don't go to any displays at all. You might find that boring but to be honest neither of my two like the loud noises they produce anyway. I live on top on a hill, so we can safely watch displays from any of our bedroom windows, including a big one held in a field a mile away. We can here some bangs but they are not very loud, so both mine are not as frightened by it all. Instead they can enjoy the lights, colours and effects of some fireworks without me fearing that they could get injured.

So how can we all have a safe and happy fireworks night?

Well its much safer to go to an organised party provided by a local authority than it is to anyone's back garden party. Its stands to reason that you have to be well back from where the fireworks are being set off and usually at a big event its fenced off. In a small area you can't do that and this is one of the reasons why accidents happen. If its an oraganised party chances are you have to pay to get in. It might be a pain but in the end if they are charging an entrance fee, then hopefully they are not being greedy, they have good quality fireworks.

If you do buy fireworks make sure they are kite marked BS 7114. This is the British Standard kite mark which is one of the highest in Europe and they have been tested for safety. Be wary of supermarkets offering buy one get one free on fireworks. This usually means that they are cheaper quality. In fact one supermarket offered something very similar last year. My husbands friend brought some as he was holding a party in their garden. One of the fireworks went off wrong and hit their next-door neighbours son who was at their party. He came away luckily with a burnt hand. I say luckily because it could of been much worse. The neighbours wife was 7 months pregnant and it just missed her but unlucki
ly c
aught her son. Well you can imagine the atmosphere and his neighbour decided to sue Tim's friend. He in turn went to the supermarket and they went to the manufactures. Its been nearly a year and their 4 year old son still wakes up covered in sweat and having nightmares. Scarred emotionally and physically and truly horrific.

As well as looking for the kite mark, make sure the box is clean, dry and not damaged. If it is damaged, don't be tempted to ask for the box of fireworks to be reduced. DON'T BUY THEM and tell who ever is selling them what way they are damaged. When you get them home again make sure you store them in a clean, dry and safe place in their original box. If you have a cupboard which locks, then all the better. If fireworks gets damp or damaged then they will either misfire or delay in firing. This again is another cause of accidents. So if you light a firework and it doesn't go off, don't go back to it, leave it as it could still explode. Follow the instructions on each firework. Light them at arm's length, using a taper and stand well back.

Always supervise children around fireworks and especially with Sparklers. Light each sparkler one at a time and never give a Sparkler to a child under 5 years. They don't know the concept that the end of a sparkler is very hot (2000°C) and could try to touch them. Try to encourage older children to wear gloves while holding Sparklers and have a bucket of water about so if a child doesn't want to hold it until the sparkler has gone out, you can put it out safely.

If you are the one settling of the fireworks, please don't drink until after they are done. Simple request but many people tend to forget that even a few pints or bottles can dull your senses enough for you to make a mistake. You might feel clear headed, have loads of confidenence but you are far from it. You wouldnt drink and drive would you? So don't drink and use firework
s.

<
br><br>
NEVER put any fireworks in your pocket. They could get damaged and then when you light them they could backfire causing fatal injury, or even death. Don't ever throw fireworks at any person or animal either. As well as causing shock and possibly death, you could mentally and physically scar someone for life. Seeing 4 degree burns to anyone isn't a pleasant sight, let alone having them. You can spend up to 6 months in hospital, blood transfusions, and plastic surgery. THINK.

As for bonfires dont forget they should be at least 18 metres (60ft) away from the house, trees, hedges, fences and sheds. If you have a small garden, dont risk having a bonfire. Fire spreads very quicky and although everything is still damp, it only takes a spark, and you could see a bigger bonfire than what you first thought you might have.

Dont use anything else to light the bonfire apart from domestic firelighters. Never use petrol, paraffin or any other flammable liquids.

Please dont burn anything other than papare and wood. Never be tempted to burn old funiture such as chairs, sofas or anything like that. Many old sofas may contain fillings which when burned can give off lethal vapours.

Keep ALL pets and very young children indoors. You can't risk anything happening to your pets or your young child. Most animals and young children don't like the noise. So its important that you make sure that they cant hear all the banging and flashing. With pets make sure you draw all your curtains and if you are going out and leaving them, then leave a light on and even the radio on low to drown out a bit of the noise. With young children who don't want to watch from their bedroom window, make sure that the windows are drawn and if they have a blind, pull that down too. If they are going to sleep and you think that they might be disturbed by the sudden bangs then again its worth considering putting some music
on low in their room.


<br>
Even cats, which having owned one for several year, and I know can be terribly independent, should also be kept in. Cats are the most common animals to be injured or killed by the result of fireworks. Rather than spend hours of worry because your cat has gone missing, keep them in and use a cat tray.

I know this all seems daunting especially when it should be a fun night, full of festivities but do remember the importance of Guy Fawlkes night. Remember, remember, the 5th of November. Remember Guy Fawlkes wanted to blow up London Parliament with gun powder. Remember Fireworks are dangerous. Remember, safety comes first. Please Don't be Blind ...use Fireworks safely.

Summary: