Issued By
Northumberland Trading
Standards Service
“FIREWORKS ARE EXPLOSIVES . GET WISE OR GET HURT”
This
is the sombre message from the DTI Consumer Safety Unit and one which the
Northumberland Trading Standards Department would like to push this November 5th.
Fireworks
can be great fun, especially for children, but as Mick King, County Trading
Standards Officer, points out: “Unfortunately, statistics show that over half
of all injuries caused by fireworks are to children.
We
do receive complaints about shopkeepers selling fireworks to children (the legal
age of purchase is 18) and we are at present visiting shops to advise on this
and to check that the fireworks are stored correctly and the amount is within
the legal limit.”
Councillor
Peter Hillman, Executive Member for Community Services, adds: “We all want
November 5th to be accident free with everyone enjoying themselves.
My advice is, where possible, attend public displays but for anyone setting off
fireworks at home please follow very carefully the instructions on the firework
and in the Firework Safety Code”.
If
any trader or member of the public is concerned about the storage, sale or
safety of fireworks they should contact their local Trading Standards Office.
Notes
to the Editor:
Please
also find attached to this e-mail some great publishing quality graphics to use
to help push the message to be careful this Bonfire Night.