Stay safe this Halloween

22 October 2019 by Alison McKenna

Halloween is fast approaching. The safety advice below has been provided by local agencies to make Halloween a safe, enjoyable time for everyone.

Fireworks and sparklers

Although fireworks and sparklers are entertaining and exciting, if not properly handled they can be extremely dangerous and can result in injuries, often serious ones.

• Fireworks require a licence – except indoor fireworks and sparklers
• It is illegal to possess, purchase, sell, handle or use fireworks except under licence
• Only adults should light or handle fireworks
• Never ever go back to a firework once lit – even if it does not go off
• When watching fireworks, stand well back
• It is an offence to throw fireworks in the street or other public places
• Always supervise children around fireworks
• Never give sparklers to children under the age of five
• Light sparklers one at a time and always wear gloves
• Keep a bucket of water close by and put sparklers in it when they go out
• You can be fined up to £5,000 for breaking the law in relation to fireworks

Buying fireworks

• Fireworks must be bought from a licensed dealer who is required to keep sales records. Fireworks bought from other sources could be of a sub-standard quality, with the potential to cause serious injury.
• Fireworks that do not have instructions printed in English are illegal
• All bangers are illegal

Fancy dress costumes

Parents should be aware of the potential dangers of their children wearing fancy dress costumes, either shop bought or home-made, if they’re around fireworks, sparklers, or open flames (such as pumpkins with candles).

If a child is wearing a fancy dress costume this Halloween:

• keep them away from naked flames – avoid using a naked flame or candle in pumpkins; use a torch, glow stick or battery-operated candle
• STOP, DROP AND ROLL if clothing does catch on fire – to try to put the flames out and also to stop the flames from rising towards the face
• choose a costume and mask that doesn’t restrict a child’s visibility or vision
• make sure they wear wool tights or ‘heavy’ trousers (jeans) and a wool jumper under the costume
• supervise children well at all times

Look out for costumes that are labelled ‘Low Flammability’ ‘BS5722’ or have the European code ‘BS EN 14878’.

The above advice has been provided by Policing & Community Safety Partnerships, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and nidirect.