Bonfire Night just thinking about those words evokes so many memories for me. I can smell that deep and smoky scent of fire, taste the toffee apples and remember the fear and excitement of holding a sparkler. Remember, remember the 5th of November is ingrained in the minds of all us Brits.

While Bonfire Night is lots of fun it’s also a time to be extra safety conscious. I thought I would share with you some top tips so you can enjoy this fun event safely.

Stand Well Back

If you are attending a Bonfire event you need to stand at least 5 metres back from it. A Bonfire can reach temperatures as hot as 1,100 degrees Celsius which is hot enough to melt some metals.

It’s also recommended that if you suffer from heart problems, asthma or bronchitis you enjoy the fireworks from inside. The smoke from the fire and fireworks can sometimes irritate the airways.

Sparkler Safety

Holding a sparkler on Bonfire Night is a core memory for a lot of children, it’s fun and exciting but also kind of scary. Make sure you or your child only holds one sparkler at a time. Three sparklers held together can create the same heat as a blowtorch for joining metal. Also only light one sparkler at a time keeping them at arm’s length.

Always make sure that children have gloves on when holding a sparkler, for younger children you can stick the sparkler into the top of a carrot making it much easier for them to hold.

I always have a bucket of cold water to place the finished sparklers in, a bucket of sand works well for this too. They can stay hot for a long time so I suggest leaving them for several hours before disposing of them.

Fireworks At Home 

It’s always recommended that you enjoy fireworks at an organised display but if you want to have your own at home then you need to follow these essential tips.

• Only buy fireworks that are for home use and suitable for the size of your garden. They should be marked with the British Standard number (BS 7114).
• Store fireworks in a metal box with a lid during your display.
• Read the instructions carefully, and make sure you have a torch with you to help with this.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby.
• A bucket of soft earth is a good idea for sticking the fireworks in and a board (non-flammable) is good for flat-bottomed fireworks.
• Use a taper for lighting the fireworks and light at arm’s length.
• Never return to a firework once it’s been lit.

Keeping Pets Safe 

Pets are often scared by the loud bangs from fireworks, they don’t understand what’s happening and perceive the noise as dangerous. It goes without saying but make sure your pet is secured inside your home, the bangs can cause them to try and run away and hide like they would in the wild. Here are some things you could do to help your furry friends.

• For dogs, give them a good long walk before it gets dark. This will help tire them out and hopefully be more relaxed when you get home.
• Close all windows and curtains and put something on like the TV or radio to distract them. Classic FM Pets Classics has two special programmes available from 5 pm to 9 pm on Saturday 2nd and Tuesday 5th of November 2024.
• Don’t try and coax them out if they want to hide under furniture, this feels safe to them and will help them feel calm.

Stay Warm

Dark November evenings can become very chilly so make sure you wrap up warm. Don’t forget to layer up with essentials like hats, scarves and gloves. You could take a flask of hot chocolate to warm you up if you are visiting a display.

Bonfire Night Food 

I do love fireworks but I love Bonfire Night food even more! Hot dogs, burgers, chilli con carne, jacket spuds and hot pies are all perfect for the occasion. Sometimes we have hot pork or beef sandwiches which are a delicious alternative.

Don’t forget about the sweet treats too like toffee apples, treacle toffee, Parkin (ginger cake) and S’mores.

I hope some of these tips will help you have a fun but safe night. Do you have any other tips to share? I would love to hear about how you celebrate Bonfire Night.