National Campaign for Firework Safety
Annual Report 1994

Injuries up by 50% in 1994.  Two fatalities of young people.  Countless animal injured and killed by fireworks, Millions annoyed by the noise and nuisance of fireworks

1574, mostly children and young people were sent to hospital last October/November with a firework injury.  450 were seriously injured.  Almost a thousand required further and long term treatment.  Thousands more were treated by parents, GP's Chemists and First-Aiders, for accidents at home, in the streets, or at firework parties, but they are not counted because they did not go to hospital.  All the categories of accidents are way up by 50% or more.  The majority of injuries were caused not by huge fireworks but by British common or garden type fireworks of Bangers, Rockets, Roman Candles, Sparklers and Air Bombs.  Only 425 accidents were unknown.

Who are the firework manufacturers trying to kid when they put out the message that all the problem was caused by imported fireworks? Yes there was a problem with these fireworks once the Government de-regulated the import licence.  That problem will get worse as time goes on.  The only difficulties last year with category 4 fireworks were in about one area of the country.  In any case the manufacturers are themselves guilty of bringing category 4 fireworks into the country especially for displays since the late 1980s.

The Government have made no response to the high injury toll, and last year refused to back the campaign's Bill which would license all firework sales and displays.  The Opposition spokesman on Consumer Affairs pathetically followed the line given to him by Standard Fireworks Ltd which was that it was all the fault of dodgy fireworks.  This year we intend to break that log jam and put a stop to spokesmen from the industry acting as advisors to both Government and the Opposition. This neatly conceals their own products.

Earlier this year we launched a major consultative exercise with most of the leading organisations in the country.  We asked them to support our Bill for licensing of sales and displays to be introduced by our patron Andrew Faulds MP, who has supported us during the whole period of the campaign.  He is retiring at the next General Election. (Do write to him with encouragement for the Bill.  We need it presented as early as possible, in case a General Election is called early.)

Everybody we asked for support gave it to us.  They include,  all our usual patrons, and the TUC,  CBI, Institute for Trading Standard Officers, Royal College of Nursing, ROSPA, Police Federation, Age Concern, Federation of Pensioners, NUT, and NUSUWT, Cats Protection League, and the Canine Defence League.

Last December long before we saw the firework injury figures.  We knew from our members it had been a bad year for injuries, We also knew two young people had been killed.  We wrote to the firework industry via Standard Fireworks the only really decent company, which acts as Secretariat for the industry.  We warned of the coming public backlash and offered them a solution, they support our Bill to licence all sales and displays, and set up a National Training Scheme for display operators.  We had an interim reply, our request would be dealt with at a full meeting of the industry in July.  We are still waiting for a response.  In private conversations with the industry's PR we are informed they are having great difficulty.  They had decided to go for licensed firework displays, something we had been asking for, for 25 years.  We told them to go for licensing of sales it is but a small step further.  It would deal with the problem of child and youth injuries, and the noise and nuisance of fireworks to everybody else.  We believe this is an offer that the industry can't refuse.  If they refuse it then they are on their own for possibly another 25 years.

Having mentioned 25 years, that is also the age of the campaign.  This year will be the biggest ever for NCFR and we are asking for your support both active and financial if you can afford it.  In November we will be having a lobby at Downing Street, and we will want as many members and their families to join us there.  If enough people come we will walk on the 100 yards to the House of Commons, and have a lobby of MP's as well.  If you cannot get up to London, and are not mobile you can help us by phoning your local radio station and making fireworks the subject, and writing to your local newspaper.

Last year we had spokesmen on 46 radio stations and did over 200 radio interviews in every part of the UK.  This year let's have as many weeks as possible when every station is discussing fireworks.  Don't forget the TV they also have Newsrooms.  If you can make an event in your area that is newsworthy then please go ahead.

We are starting earlier this year.  Hopefully in early October.  Each year for the past few years the DTI have learnt the day of our press launch and have put their News Conference in at the same time same day.  This has not stopped the TV and Radio Stations who always ask for interviews two hours before the conference begins.  It has stopped our Press cover because Press journalists cannot fit in two Conferences at the same time.  This year we will be going on a different day and a different time.

Keep us informed what you are doing through the Mail or by phone, and the best of luck

NOEL TOBIN  - DIRECTOR
DUDLEY SAVILL - CHAIRMAN