kids fireworks safety training resources

Firework Safety Education

Welcome to the teachers' section of our site. Here you can find a number of resources for teachers to use in schools in England

Training materials that cover key stages 1, 2 and 3 and are available from the DTI. They are designed to communicate the firework safety message through use in the literacy/citizenship elements of the national curriculum but the materials also contain cross-curriculum links where appropriate.

They have been made available by the DTI and can be downloaded as follows:

Useful classroom posters and leaflets to download

Kids and fireworks

Changes to the law mean that it is now an offence for under-18s to be in possession of fireworks in a public place.

Did you know that sparklers get five times hotter than cooking oil? Sparklers are not toys and should never be given to a child under five as they cannot understand how to use them safely.

Never hold a baby or small child and a sparkler at the same time

Wear gloves when holding sparklers and keep them at arm’s length away from the body

Children over five can safely hold sparklers but an adult should light them.

Make sure children do not run with sparklers or wave them around near anyone else

As soon as a sparkler is finished plunge it hot end down into a bucket of water.

Animals and fireworks

The Blue Cross has produced a leaflet in conjunction with The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the British Fireworks Association (BFA). The leaflet gives tips on how to protect pets, including horses, from distress and injury caused by fireworks.

Ten of the top tips in the leaflet are:

Always keep cats and dogs inside when fireworks are being let off

Always close all windows and doors and block off cat flaps

Always make sure that your pet is wearing some form of easily readable identification

Never take your dog to a fireworks display

Never shout at your pet if it is frightened, as it will only become more stressed

Never walk your dog when fireworks are going off

If possible, try to bring hutches and cages inside

Give smaller pets (rabbits, guinea pigs etc.) extra bedding so that they can burrow and feel safer

Keep your horse in its usual environment, either in a stable or outside, making sure it is secure and away from any displays.

Try to stay with your animal wherever possible