Bonfire Night Safety Tips: Burns, Smoke Inhalation, and Eye Injuries

Bonfire Night is a highlight of the autumn calendar in Wakefield, with organised displays at local parks and plenty of families hosting their own celebrations at home. It's brilliant fun — but bonfire night safety tips for burns, smoke inhalation, and eye injuries matter more than many people realise. A few minutes of preparation and awareness can make the difference between a safe, memorable evening and an unwanted trip to A&E.

Here's what you need to know to keep your household and guests safe.

Burns: The Most Common Bonfire Night Injury

Burns are by far the most common injury on and around 5th November. They're caused by fireworks, sparklers, bonfires, and even hot food and drinks at outdoor events. The severity depends on temperature, length of exposure, and the area of the body affected.

Sparklers deserve special mention. They burn at temperatures up to 2,000°C — hot enough to melt glass. They're the single biggest cause of bonfire night injuries in children under five. If children are using sparklers, they should always wear gloves, hold the sparkler at arm's length, and never wave them near other people. Once a sparkler has cooled, it should be dropped into a bucket of water — not on the ground where someone could step on it and burn themselves again.

What to Do Immediately After a Burn

The NHS advises cooling any burn under cool running water for 20 minutes. This is the single most important first aid step. Do not apply ice, butter, toothpaste, or any home remedy — these can trap heat in the skin and make the injury worse.

Remove any tight jewellery or clothing around the burn before it starts to swell. Once you've cooled it, cover the burn with a clean, dry dressing or cling film.

For anything more than a very minor burn, seek medical attention. If a burn is:

• Larger than the person's palm
• On the face, hands, feet, or joints
• Deep or blistered
• Caused by chemicals or electricity

…call NHS 111 or go to A&E. You can reach NHS 111 online or by phone — they'll direct you to the right service.

Smoke Inhalation: A Hidden Risk

Standing downwind of a bonfire exposes you to significant amounts of smoke, which contains carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and other irritants. For most people, a bit of bonfire smoke causes nothing more than watery eyes and a cough. But for people with asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions, it can trigger a serious reaction.

Patients with existing chest conditions sometimes find that outdoor events in winter exacerbate their symptoms — much like the risks we discuss in our guide to winter warmth for older adults in Wakefield. The principle is the same: plan ahead and manage exposure.

To reduce smoke exposure:

• Stand upwind of the fire whenever possible
• Move away if the wind changes direction
• If you have a respiratory condition, keep your reliever inhaler with you
• Avoid throwing treated wood, plastics, or other household waste onto a bonfire — these produce toxic fumes
• Keep children away from the immediate vicinity of the fire

If someone experiences difficulty breathing, persistent coughing, wheezing, or chest tightness after smoke exposure, seek medical advice promptly. Call NHS 111 or your GP.

Eye Injuries: Rare but Serious

Firework-related eye injuries are thankfully rare, but they can be devastating. Debris from fireworks, sparks from sparklers, and ash from bonfires can all scratch or irritate the eyes.

How to protect your eyes:

• Watch firework displays from a safe distance — follow the instructions on the packaging if setting off your own
• Never look directly down into a firework that has not gone off
• Wear safety glasses if you are handling fireworks
• If something gets into your eye, do not rub it — try to flush it gently with clean water or saline eye wash and seek medical help if irritation persists for more than an hour

General Safety Tips for Bonfire Night

Whether you're attending an organised display or hosting a small gathering at home, these principles apply:

The Firework Code

• Never return to a firework once lit
• Keep fireworks in a closed box and out of reach of children and pets
• Light fireworks at arm's length using a long taper or lighter
• Only use fireworks that comply with UK law (marked with a CE mark)

Supervision and clothing

• Supervise children at all times — keep them well away from the fire and fireworks
• Avoid loose clothing, scarves, and synthetic fabrics that can catch fire easily
• Keep pets indoors — animals are frightened by fireworks and can injure themselves trying to escape

Practical precautions

• Have water nearby — a bucket of water or a garden hose for emergencies
• Do not drink alcohol if you are in charge of fireworks — impaired judgement is a common factor in firework injuries
• Keep a charged phone for emergencies
• Use a torch to spot hazards in the dark

If you're planning a gathering at home, it's also worth checking the weather forecast. Damp conditions reduce fire risk and make it harder to light fireworks, while strong winds can make smoke harder to control.

First Aid Kit Essentials for Bonfire Night

If you're hosting a bonfire night event, make sure you have the following to hand:

• Sterile dressings and bandages (various sizes)
• A clean bowl or bucket of cool water for treating minor burns
• Saline eye wash for flushing debris from eyes
• Cling film for covering burns
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief (speak to your pharmacist about safe doses for your household)
• A torch — for spotting hazards in the dark
• A charged phone — for calling for help
• Tweezers (for removing splinters or embedded debris)

Your pharmacist at Kingfisher can help you put together a basic first aid kit if you don't already have one. We're open 192 Kirkgate in Wakefield city centre, and we stock everything you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are sparklers safe for young children? Sparklers are high-risk for children under five. They burn at 2,000°C and are responsible for the majority of firework injuries in this age group. If your child wants to use them, they must wear gloves, hold the sparkler at arm's length, and be supervised by an adult at all times. Safer alternatives include glow sticks and LED toys.

What's the difference between first, second, and third degree burns? First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of skin (like sunburn — red and sore). Second-degree burns go deeper and may blister. Third-degree burns are very serious, affecting all layers of skin and appearing white or charred. Any burn larger than a coin, or any burn on the face, hands, or joints, should be seen by a healthcare professional.

Can I use ice to cool a burn? No. Ice can damage the skin further by causing ice burn. Use cool (not cold) running water for 20 minutes instead. This is the safest way to cool a burn.

What should I do if someone has inhaled a lot of smoke? Get them into fresh air immediately. If they have difficulty breathing, persistent coughing, or chest tightness, call NHS 111 or go to A&E. If they have asthma or another respiratory condition, help them use their reliever inhaler if they have one.

Are fireworks dangerous for pets? Yes. Loud noises can terrify animals and cause them to injure themselves trying to escape. Keep all pets indoors on Bonfire Night, close windows and curtains to muffle noise, and provide a safe space (like a quiet room or covered bed) where they can hide if anxious.

What if a burn won't stop hurting after 20 minutes of cooling? That's normal — burns can continue to hurt for some time. Once you've cooled it, cover it with a clean dressing. You can give paracetamol or ibuprofen (speak to your pharmacist about the right dose). But if the pain is severe or the burn looks deep, seek medical attention.

Should I worry about ash from the bonfire getting in people's eyes? Yes, but most of the time it just causes mild irritation. If ash or debris gets in someone's eye, encourage them to blink gently and use saline eye wash if available. If irritation persists after flushing, or if they have redness or blurred vision, see a healthcare professional.

Is it normal to cough after breathing bonfire smoke? A bit of coughing after bonfire smoke exposure is normal and usually resolves within a few hours. But if someone has a chronic cough, breathing difficulties, or their symptoms worsen after 24 hours, speak to their GP or call NHS 111.

When to Seek Help

Most bonfire nights pass off without incident. But if someone is injured, it's important to know when to get professional help.

• Speak to a pharmacist for minor burns, small cuts, or eye irritation
• Call NHS 111 for urgent-but-not-life-threatening issues like moderate burns, difficulty breathing, or persistent pain
• Call 999 or go to A&E for serious burns (larger than a palm, or on the face, hands, feet, or joints), severe eye injuries, breathing difficulties, or any injury that looks serious

Most Wakefield residents know that winter brings seasonal health challenges — you might be familiar with our guides to managing stress during winter or staying safe at outdoor summer events. Bonfire Night safety follows the same principle: a bit of planning prevents most problems.

If you need first aid supplies or advice ahead of Bonfire Night, pop into Kingfisher Pharmacy, 192 Kirkgate, Wakefield city centre. We stock everything you need to enjoy the evening safely, and our team can help you put together a kit tailored to your household. Call us on 01924 291898 or visit in person.