Sparklers are still one of the most common causes of fireworks injuries on Bonfire Night alongside Rockets and this is mainly due to people underestimating the dangers of them, resulting in server burns and scaring for life.

Why Sparklers are Dangerous

Sparklers are Fireworks, basically a metal rod with a coating that when lit, will burns and give off sparks and therefore just like all other fireworks must be used with extreme care. A sparkler can reach temperatures of 20 times the boiling point of water and your holding that in your hand! Importantly Sparklers also remain very hot after the sparks have finished as it’s a still is a metal rod that has just been heated up to extremely high temperatures, so it will take a long time to cool down.

Why Children Under 5 Should Never have sparklers

You might think its just people being health and safety mad, but the experts such as The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, all agree that you should NOT give sparklers to children Under 5, even if you are with them. The reason for this is they are too young to hold them safely and don’t understand why they might be dangerous, no matter how careful and how much you explain it to them.

Over 500 children under 16 are rushed to A&E in the four weeks surrounding bonfire night, with the most common injuries being too hands then followed by the eyes and face.

Don’t forget its not being boring by not letting your little one have sparklers and if it’s a tossup between your pre-schooler having a small tantrum, or being sad as they feel they are missing out by not having a Sparkler compare to keeping them safe - Then it’s always worth picking safety first!

Top 13 Safety Tips for when Using Sparklers

You can of course use and enjoy Sparklers safely and to help we have put together our Top 12 Safety Tips for you:

1. Store sparklers and other fireworks in a closed box in a cool, dry place
2. Never give sparklers to the under 5s
3. Always wear gloves
4. Always light sparklers one at a time
5. Hold sparklers at arm’s length while being lit and light them one at a time
6. For children you can place the sparler into a Carrot so its easier to hold and they have less chance to come in contact with the hot metal
7. Never hold a baby or child in your arms while holding a sparkler
8. Avoid dressing children in loose or flowing clothes that might catch light.
9. Always supervise children using sparklers, teach them not to wave sparklers near anyone else or run while holding them
10. Never take sparklers to a public firework display as it will be too crowded to use them safely
11. Don’t give them to any adult that have been drinking alcohol
12. Don’t use sparklers near other fireworks due to the risks of stray sparks
13. Don’t use them indoors (unless clearly marked on the label as indoor use) this is due to the unpleasant smoke created and the danger of hot sparks setting fire to home furnishings

What to do in an Emergency

Accident do happen on Bonfire Night and the best thing is to always act quickly. To do that you need to know what you should do in an emergency, so here are a few Tips on what you should do immediately:  

• If clothing catches fire, get the person to stop, drop to the floor and roll. You can cover them in heavy material like a curtain.
• Cool the burn or scald with cold water for at least 10 minutes, keep going even, if the person doe not like it
• Cut around material sticking to the skin - don't pull it off.
• Don't touch the burn or burst any blisters.
• Cover the burn with clean, non-fluffy material - cling film is ideal - to prevent infection.
• Get advice from your doctor or if needed the accident and emergency department at your local hospital

Attending an Organised Firework Display

Injury figures support the advice that the safest place to enjoy fireworks is at a large public display, as far fewer people are injured here than at smaller family or private parties. If you would rather attend a local organised Firework Display, then Click Here to see our Handy Guide to where is hosting Bonfire and Fireworks Display in West Wales this year.

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