Bonfire night is always good fun and something the whole family can look forward to. With colourful fireworks lighting up the sky and crackling bonfires, it’s hard not to get excited. However, it can be dangerous, as well as harmful to the environment. Our blog highlights certain steps you can take to ensure you stay safe and protect wildlife this bonfire night.

Be wise when choosing fireworks

You’ll probably have seen loads of shops selling fireworks for people to set off in their gardens. But it’s important to make sure that any fireworks you buy carry the UKCA/CE mark. This is a quality control mark which shows that your fireworks are safe to use.

Unfortunately, most fireworks aren’t the best for the environment because they’re not biodegradable and are made with harmful chemicals. While there are some greener fireworks out there, they’re more expensive and not available in all shops. However, according to the energy company Ecotricity, white fireworks tend to have fewer chemicals in them than coloured ones, so it’s worth opting for these where possible.

Try to find a free bonfire night event

To avoid having to buy fireworks altogether, there are plenty of free bonfire night events in your community. These events will often have their own fireworks display, meaning you’ll be free to stand back and watch from a safe distance. This is also a more eco-friendly option as it results in fewer private parties, and therefore less emissions.

Take care with sparklers

Sparklers can be a lot of fun for children and adults alike. While they’re often viewed as being harmless, they burn at very high temperatures so could easily cause burns. It’s recommended that sparklers aren’t given to children under 5, and you should never hold a baby at the same time as a sparkler.

Always wear gloves when using sparklers and put the stick into a bucket of cold water once it’s finished. Finally, dispose of your finished sparklers responsibly by putting them in your general waste bin when they’ve cooled down fully. This not only protects you but also ensures that no litter is left at the end of the night.

Ensure children and pets are a safe distance away

If you do decide to have your own fireworks at home, it’s important to keep children and pets at least eight metres away. Sometimes, fireworks can be faulty and won’t go off. If this happens don’t try to relight it, but instead, wait 5-10 minutes before popping it in a bucket of water.

It’s common for pets and animals to become upset due to loud noises, so it’s usually best to keep them tucked up indoors. Local wildlife like hedgehogs are also likely to make nests out of bonfires, so always thoroughly check them before lighting so that animals aren’t at risk.

Follow the firework code at all times

Remember if you’re in doubt, keep checking The Firework Code. This is a clear set of rules and recommendations which can help guide you. Some of the points include always keeping cigarettes and naked flames well away from fireworks and never putting fireworks in your pockets. You can read the full Firework Code here.

We hope that this blog has provided useful information on how to stay safe and enjoy bonfire night this year. For more tips on protecting yourself and the local wildlife, follow us on social media @ForHousing.