🎆 Firework Safety: Prevention, First Aid, and When to Seek Help
Fireworks light up our skies every autumn — from Bonfire Night to New Year’s Eve — bringing families and communities together. But each year, hundreds of people across the UK are injured by fireworks, sparklers, or bonfires.
At MET Medical, our teams regularly treat burns and other injuries that could have been avoided with simple precautions. Whether you’re celebrating at home or organising a public event, preparation and safety should always come first.
🎇 Prevention: The Best Treatment Is Avoiding the Injury
Most firework injuries happen because of poor planning, unsafe distances, or alcohol. The majority are preventable with a few sensible steps.
If you’re hosting a display at home:
Buy only CE or UKCA-marked fireworks – these meet British safety standards.
Follow manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Keep fireworks in a closed metal box, lighting one at a time at arm’s length using a taper.
Never return to a firework that hasn’t gone off – it could still ignite.
Keep spectators (especially children) well back.
Supervise sparklers at all times – they burn at over 1,600°C (hotter than a blowtorch!).
Keep water, sand, or a fire blanket nearby in case of emergencies.
🏟️ Organising a Public or Community Display
If you’re running an event for the public — even a small community display — there are legal and safety obligations you must follow.
Permission and Licensing
Private land: You must have the landowner’s written permission.
Public land: You’ll need approval or a licence from your local council, which may take several weeks to arrange.
Required Documentation and Safety Planning
You’ll typically need to submit:
A risk assessment and event management plan
Public liability insurance
Details of your fireworks supplier, their qualifications, and competence
Evidence of your safety plan, crowd management, and emergency access arrangements
Contact details for your event medical provider (many organisers use experienced teams like MET Medical)
Temporary Event and Traffic Notices
If your event includes alcohol sales or live entertainment, you’ll need a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) from your local council.
For road closures or traffic management, apply to your local Highways Authority well in advance.
Firework Storage
If you’re storing fireworks before the event — even for a few days — you may need a Storage Licence under the Explosives Regulations 2014.
Apply to your local council or fire service, depending on the quantity stored.
Most commercial suppliers already hold this licence, but if you’re organising independently, it’s your responsibility to comply.
Competence and Professional Handling
For larger or public displays, fireworks must be handled only by trained, competent professionals, such as those certified by the British Pyrotechnists Association (BPA).
Untrained individuals should never attempt to run a public display. The risks to spectators, property, and emergency responders are too high.
🔥 First Aid for Burns
If someone is burned, cooling the injury immediately is the single most important step — and the one most often forgotten.
1. Cool the burn – always, and first
Run cool or lukewarm water over the burn for at least 20 minutes.
Do not use ice, creams, or butter. Cooling halts the burning process and prevents the injury from deepening.
Clinical insight: One of the most common mistakes made — even by experienced paramedics — is underestimating a fresh burn that initially looks mild. The skin can appear pink and intact at first, but the underlying tissue damage may still be progressing. Within minutes, blisters can form and the burn may rapidly deepen during the journey to hospital. That’s why cooling should always come before dressing or transport — every second of active burning increases the depth of injury.
2. Remove jewellery and tight clothing
Do this before swelling starts — but don’t remove anything stuck to the skin.
3. Cover the burn
After cooling, use cling film (wrap loosely) or a clean plastic bag for hands or feet. This keeps the wound clean and reduces pain.
4. Manage pain
Over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help.
🩹 When It’s Superficial — and When to Seek Help
Minor (superficial) burns
Skin is red, painful, and not blistered.
Usually small (less than the size of the person’s hand).
These can often be treated at home after proper cooling and covering. Keep clean and monitor for infection.
Remember: Even if a burn appears superficial, if it was caused by direct flame or intense heat, it should still be cooled thoroughly. What looks mild initially may deteriorate without prompt cooling.
Seek hospital or call 999 if:
The burn is larger than the person’s hand
There are blisters, whitening, or charred areas
It affects the face, eyes, hands, feet, genitals, or major joints
The person is under 5, elderly, or has medical conditions (e.g. diabetes)
It’s caused by chemicals, electricity, or explosion
The person has difficulty breathing or soot around the mouth/nose (possible inhalation injury)
When in doubt — always call 999. Burns can worsen rapidly, and early medical assessment can prevent long-term complications.
đź’¬ A Note for Clinical Staff
For clinicians, first responders, and event medics:
Use the Rule of Nines to estimate burn surface area (TBSA).
Cool first, assess second.
Reassess depth frequently — burns evolve.
Prioritise airway management in flame or enclosed-space incidents.
Avoid creams or topical agents unless guided by protocol.
Document mechanism, depth, size, and site; refer per NHS Burn Centre criteria.
Consider tetanus prophylaxis and analgesia early.
❤️ Stay Safe and Plan Ahead
Firework displays should be a celebration — not an emergency. With good planning, proper permissions, and professional support, they can be spectacular and safe.
If you’re organising a public or private event, MET Medical provides experienced event medical cover, including on-site clinicians trained in burn management, crowd safety, and emergency response.
For advice or to request a quote, visit www.met-medical.co.uk.