Emergency services in West Sussex getting ready for busier night than usual this Fireworks Night
The fire and rescue service is urging people to keep safe.
People in West Sussex are being urged to keep safe this bonfire and fireworks season, as emergency services prepare for a busier night than usual.
More residents are expected to celebrate in their own gardens this year, as many organised events have been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is asking everyone to show respect for the emergency services, their neighbours and animals this Bonfire Night.
Nicki Peddle, head of prevention, said:
"Whilst most people enjoy fireworks responsibly, in the wrong hands they can cause real misery.
"Remember that fireworks are explosives, and as such should be treated with respect and only used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the Firework Code."
Here is the Firework Code:
• Plan your firework display to make it safe and enjoyable, and ensure it finishes before 11pm
• Only buy fireworks which carry the CE mark, keep them in a closed box and use them one at a time
• Read and follow the instructions on each firework using a torch if necessary
• Light the firework at arm's length with a taper and stand well back
• Keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks
• Never return to a firework once it has been lit
• Don't put fireworks in pockets and never throw them
• Direct any rocket fireworks well away from spectators
• Never use paraffin or petrol on a bonfire
• Make sure that the fire is out and surroundings are made safe before leaving.
The fire service is asking people in West Sussex not to take risks which would put additional pressures on emergency services as they also deal with the impact of COVID-19.
But, anybody who does suffer a burn should:
• Cool the burn under cold running water for at least ten minutes.
• After the burn has been cooled, cover it with cling film or a clean plastic bag.
• Call 999 if necessary. Always seek medical advice for a baby or child that has been burned.
Fireworks can frighten people and animals, with the elderly and children said to be "frequently scared and intimidated" by firework noise.
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is advising people to tell their neighbours if they are planning on letting off fireworks and avoid buying really noisy ones.
They are also supporting the RSPCA’s ‘Bang Out Of Order’ campaign, which is encouraging the responsible use of fireworks and the adoption of tighter regulations concerning their use.
Fireworks must not be set off between 11pm and 7am, except for:
• Bonfire Night, when the cut off is midnight
• New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, when the cut off is 1am.
The service is also reminding people that they must be aged 18 or over to buy fireworks and it is illegal to set off or throw fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or other public places.
Anybody who sells or uses fireworks illegally can be fined up to £5,000 and imprisoned for up to six months, and could also get an on-the-spot fine of £90.