Remember Remember the 5th of November
With bonfire night rapidly approaching, it is important to consider the dangers of this celebration when involving children. It is a spectacle that kicks off the winter season with a bang.
Bonfire night is the celebration of the failed Gunpowder Plot in 1605, orchestrated by Guy Fawkes and 12 other men. The men planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament in an attempt to re-establish the Catholic rule in England. However, their plan was uncovered before they could carry it out. Whilst it is not a mandatory day to celebrate, many people around the UK still do. For many it is a chance to cosy up around a bonfire, watch a spectacle of fireworks dance in the night sky and enjoy a variety of sweet treats and wholesome wintery meals.
There are however many dangers associated with this celebration given the vast displays of fireworks and bonfires. We have complied a list of things to consider when celebrating bonfire night with children and tips on how to keep you and your family safe throughout the celebrations.
Never let your children handle fireworks. Even if they are accompanied by an adult fireworks are extremely dangerous. No child should ever be close to a lit firework. Most firework related injuries happen at family homes or private firework displays with over 550 children under 16 taken to A&E in the four weeks surrounding bonfire night alone. Ensure you and your children are as far away as possible from the location of the firework on the ground when admiring the explosion of colours in the sky. Read the story of burn survivor Maisie Roe to truly understand the devastation fireworks can cause.
Don’t let young children handle sparklers. Whilst these may seem like a safe and fun activity to incorporate into the Guy Fawkes celebrations, these can still cause significant burns. It is advised that only older children - above the age of 6 - handle sparklers and when doing so it is essential that they wear gloves and keep the sparkler at arms length. Ensure you have a bucket of water or sand nearby to extinguish the flame. NEVER leave children to use sparklers unaccompanied.
Be prepared to extinguish a bonfire should ‘worst come to worst’. If you are planning on having a bonfire in your garden it is important that you have a fire extinguisher or sand bags on hand to put out the flames should it get out of hand. Create a bonfire boundary that everyone must stay behind and do not let your children out of your sight just in case they don’t respect the created boundary. We all know how excited children get around events, safety is not at the forefront of their minds so as adults, the responsibility falls on us to enforce safety precautions on our kids.
If you are attending an organised bonfire night event there are a few things to consider. Dress up your children warm as it will get cold standing around all evening in November. Make sure your child is also dressed in distinct clothing so they are easily visible to you in a crowd. These events can get extremely busy so keeping your child near you is pertinent for their safety. If you can afford them, buy some apple airtags to attach to your child’s coat or zip it into their pocket. This way, should the worst case scenario occur and you loose sight of your child amongst the crowds, you can easily track them using your phone. It is also a good idea to write your telephone number and name in their shoe or on a piece of paper that is placed in their pocket. For older children it is always a good idea to get them to memorise your contact details should anything ever happen. If you are taking particularly young children or babies to a bonfire night event, invest in a quality pair of headphones for your child to wear to dampen the sounds of the bangs and pops of fireworks. This will help your child to enjoy the mesmerising display of fireworks without the stress of the loud noises.
You may also want to consider whether a big event such as a fireworks display is suitable for your child. Some children can find the whole event very stressful, especially children with autism or children that have suffered trauma. For those with autism, the bonfire night may be an overwhelming sensory experience with the loud sounds, colourful displays and new smells. If you are taking children who are sensitive to loud noises out on bonfire night, try Loop Earplugs. These earplugs offer up to 16 dB of noise reduction. Note that these are not suitable for children under the age of 6-years-old. If your child doesn’t like wearing earplugs, try Alpines Muffy kids headphones, suitable from age 5. Don’t force your child to attend any events surrounding this celebration, there are many bonfire night related activities you can do at home, without the need for any real pyrotechnics!
