City of York Council is reminding residents to play it safe on Bonfire Night by following the firework code.

Fireworks can be great fun, but they can be very dangerous if not used correctly. That means checking that they conform to stringent safety standards.  Fireworks that are safe will contain at least one of the following markings: BS 7114, BS EN 14035, BS EN 15947 (these are safety standards that set out specifications and test procedures for fireworks) or be marked with the 'CE' mark. 

Residents are advised to make sure they buy their fireworks from a reputable shop.  To help make it firework safety even easier this year, the council's Trading Standards team and Safer York Partnership have given traders registered to sell fireworks a sticker to display in their shop window, so shoppers can see where to - and where not to- buy fireworks from..
 
 Registered traders have also been sent reminders on the restrictions that apply to the sale of fireworks, for example that they may only be sold to people over 18, as well as the different types of fireworks that are banned from sale.   

One person should be in charge of setting off the fireworks and whoever does should ensure that they have taken all of the necessary precautions. This means reading any instructions in daylight and not consuming alcohol until they have finished setting off the fireworks. On the night they will need a torch, a bucket of water, eye protection and gloves and a bucket of soft earth to put fireworks in. They will also need suitable supports and launchers if they're setting off catherine wheels or rockets.

Although fireworks are fun for us, they are not fun for animals. Most animals get very scared by the lights and noise, so pet owners should take precautions to protect their pets when fireworks are likely to be set off.

The best thing is to keep your pets indoors if possible. This includes bringing in pets that are normally kept outside, such as rabbits or guinea pigs. Closing windows and doors and trying to drown out the noise of the fireworks as much as possible can be helpful.