By Stewart Hansen, Founder and Principal Instructor at Vital Signs First.
Bonfire Night is a highlight of the autumn, but it is also one of the busiest nights for burns and firework injuries. Knowing what to do in the first few minutes can make a real difference. This guide covers bonfire night first aid for burns, plus simple ways to keep everyone safer.
Bonfire night first aid for burns
The NHS has clear advice on burns and scalds. In outline:
- Make the area safe. Move the person away from the heat source, and protect yourself.
- Cool the burn straight away. Hold it under cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes. Don’t use ice, iced water, creams or butter.
- Remove jewellery and loose clothing near the burn, unless it is stuck to the skin.
- Cover it loosely. Use cling film, laid lengthways, or a clean, non-fluffy material. Don’t wrap it tightly, and don’t burst blisters.
- Keep the person warm, particularly children, while you cool the burn.
- Get medical help. Call 999 or go to A&E if the burn is larger than the person’s hand, deep, on the face, hands, feet, genitals or over a joint, caused by chemicals or electricity, or if the person is a young child, struggling to breathe or seems unwell.
Sparklers and fireworks: keep it safe
Sparklers look harmless, but they burn hot enough to cause serious injuries, and children are often the ones holding them. Some simple habits help:
- Supervise children closely, and have an adult light sparklers.
- Wear gloves, hold sparklers at arm’s length, and light one at a time.
- Put used sparklers into a bucket of water, because they stay hot after they go out.
- Light fireworks at arm’s length, and stand well back afterwards.
- Never go back to a firework that hasn’t gone off, and never relight it.
- Keep a bucket of water or a hose close by.
- Think about going to an organised display, which is often the safest way to enjoy fireworks.
Eye injuries and other firework injuries
If a firework injures someone’s eye, don’t rub it, don’t try to remove anything stuck in it, and protect it with a clean cover without pressing on it. Further to this it is advisable to cover the non injured eye in order to make the patient “Blind” this ensures that the injured eye does not move. Get urgent medical help. If someone has a serious injury with heavy bleeding, call 999 and apply firm pressure with a clean cloth while you wait.
Hosting a bonfire party? A quick checklist
- A well-stocked first aid kit, and a clear idea of who will use it.
- A water supply for cooling burns, plus buckets or a hose for safety.
- Your address ready to give if you need to call 999.
- A charged phone, and a clear route for emergency vehicles.
- At least one adult who knows what to do for a burn and stays sober and alert.
Bonfire night first aid FAQs
Should I put butter or cream on a burn?
No. Don’t use butter, creams, ice or iced water. Cool the burn under cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes.
How long should I cool a burn for?
For 20 minutes, as soon as possible after the burn happens. If you can’t reach running water, use any cool, clean, non-fluffy material or liquid that’s available, and get medical advice.
Would you know what to do?
Reading a guide is a good start, but nothing replaces hands-on practice. We run first aid courses for workplaces, clubs and groups, and paediatric first aid courses for parents, carers and childcare professionals, across Milton Keynes and the surrounding counties. Get in touch to find the right course for you.
This article is general guidance and is not a substitute for accredited first aid training or professional medical advice. In an emergency, always call 999.