RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

October 31, 2000
REGISTRATION SCHEME NEEDED FOR FIREWORK DISPLAYS

A national registration scheme for bonfire and firework displays was called for by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today.

RoSPA believes the plan would help persuade more people to go to organised displays and would lead to a reduction in firework injuries. A scheme would allow organisers to have plans checked by experts and reassure the public that they were attending a safe event.

In the past, there have been reports of display fireworks hitting trees and falling onto crowds, children playing too close to the firework zone, exploding canisters in fires showering spectators with hot ash and organisers not reading instructions and drinking alcohol. Even so, displays are still the safest way to enjoy fireworks.

Last year the highest number of firework accidents (447) happened at family or private parties. People fooling with fireworks in the street and other public places led to another 296 injuries out of a total of 1056 accidents. More than half those hurt were children who should not be handling fireworks.

A total of 153 people were hurt at large public displays and 72 others were injured at smaller events, such as those held by clubs and voluntary groups.

RoSPA's National Home and Leisure Safety Committee is urging the appropriate Government Departments in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to develop and introduce national bonfire and firework display registration schemes. It further recommends that, in the meantime, all local and fire authorities adopt a voluntary bonfire and firework registration scheme.

Sarah Colles, RoSPA Home Safety Adviser, said: "Fire officers or other experts would visit the site of the bonfire and discuss details with the organisers.

"They would consider things like whether there was a safe distance between the display and the audience, and if factors like wind direction had been taken into account. Types of fireworks being used would also be looked at.

"Ideally, we would like a compulsory registration scheme introduced nationally, but some areas already have voluntary local registration schemes. We would like to see others following suit. Anyone attending a registered display would be confident that it had been organised as safely as possible. If more people went to well-organised displays, I am sure we would begin to see the number of firework injuries fall."