Everyone loves a pyrotechnic display around Bonfire Night – not to mention New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year. As long as The Firework Code is observed of course. And some of the facts are almost as spectacular as the fireworks.
Stand well back and take a look:
In 2014-15 4,506 people in England visited A&E with fireworks-related injuries, an 111% increase since 2009/10
Three burning sparklers together reach the same temperature as a blowtorch
At family back garden displays sparklers cause more injuries than rockets, bangers, air bombs and Roman candles combined
A rocket travels at up to 150 miles per hour and can ascend to a height of 200 metres
The most common firework injuries are to hands and faces, especially eyes
40% of firework injuries in 2015 were caused by illegal fireworks
45% of firework injuries happen to under 14s
The maximum fine for throwing a firework is £5000
Over 130 million fireworks are sold in Britain each year
St Peter’s School in York, attended by Guy Fawkes in 1570, is the only place in England that refuses to celebrate 5th November
90% of all the world’s fireworks are made in China
The biggest firework display in Europe is at the Edinburgh Festival, with a million fireworks going off in less than an hour
Static electricity can set off fireworks, so firecracker makers only wear cotton clothing
