Bonfire night is an exciting time of year, however for a lot of families it can be an extremely difficult time also. We want to share an insight into these families lives and advise on simple ways to be more mindful during this period. We will also be giving tips on ways you can keep your family safe this bonfire night. We know our followers are some of the most caring and considerate parents, so we hope this blog can help you help each other.
Loud Noises – Share Your Plans
Bonfire night can often upset our little ones. With that said, it is important to be mindful of our neighbours and if you can, let them know your firework plans in advance, so they can prepare.
Here is what the experts say…
“We would recommend that you consider your neighbours and whether they have pets, or are elderly. You can buy a range of noiseless or low-noise fireworks that will still give a great display but without disturbing others.”
-Paul Howes, Group Manager for Prevention and Protection at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue
“For those with sensory processing disorders, fireworks have the ability to cause stress, anxiety and discomfort due to their noise and unpredictability.”
– Elysium 2020
If your child does find this time of year difficult, follow the link below for Elysium’s top 10 tips.
Fluffy friends – How To Calm Them Down
Loud bangs can be very confusing for our pets and we often witness strange behaviour because of them. It can make you feel helpless watching your pet struggle with confusion and anxiety at this time of year. So here are a few tricks and ideas you can use to try and ease their stress.
There are lots of simple things you can do to help your pet deal with fireworks. By preparing in advance before fireworks start your pet will be better able to cope with the noises.
– The RSPCA 2020
- Give your pet somewhere safe to hide, like a quite corner or under furniture.
- If you can, walk your pets in daylight hours and keep them indoors at night time.
- Try to mask the sound of fireworks by closing doors and windows and playing the radio.
- Don’t punish your pets for their reaction to the fireworks.
- Anti-stress dog bands help sensitive and/or frightened dogs to calm down during certain stressful situations as it reduces noise and provides a feeling of tucking in. (You can buy these online or make them yourself)
Keeping your family safe
For those who do have firework plans, we know you are clued up on how to keep your family safe on bonfire night. Here’s a reminder of the latest tips from our local fire department ready for your family festivities…
Every year we buy the biggest and best fireworks for our home displays but the latest advice from the Lincolnshire fire department suggests you should check that you should only buy products that are suitable for your garden and neighbourhood. Surprisingly, category 3 fireworks are for sale to the public for outdoor use.
- Category 2 fireworks are suitable for gardens where it is possible for spectators to keep at least a distance of 5m away for safety (often 8m – always check the safety information on the packaging).
- Category 3 fireworks (‘display fireworks’) are usually only suitable for larger open spaces where people can stand at least 25 metres away. 25 metres is about the size of three fire engines end to end – so if you couldn’t fit that in your garden – it’s not big enough!
To read Lincolnshire fire departments full article follow the link below.
We hope you and your family have the best experience this bonfire night and you have been able to take a few tips from us to help.
