Wales’ top medical adviser has urged people to take care and act sensibly to avoid injuries this Bonfire Night.
Ahead of one of the busiest weeks of the year for burn injuries, Chief Medical Officer, Professor Isabel Oliver, said:
“Fireworks can cause severe injury, including burns and breathing difficulties particularly for people with asthma and respiratory conditions.
“They should only be handled by adults in a carefully supervised environment and the safest place to enjoy them is at an organised public display. Please stand well back and never return to a lit firework.
“If you build a bonfire, it should be in a safe location with any necessary permissions.
“The fire should be an appropriate size and located well away from people, trees and properties taking into account wind direction.
“Please take care to stay safe.”
Last year, the Welsh Ambulance Service received more than 1,100 emergency 999 calls and around 1,700 non-emergency calls to NHS 111 Wales on Bonfire Night alone.
Since 2019, the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery at Morriston Hospital in Swansea has treated more than 60 firework-related injuries. The centre, one of Europe’s largest and busiest burns services, provides specialist care for around 1,000 people each year – roughly half of whom are children.
A recent £7.7 million upgrade has expanded the unit, creating three new burns cubicles, two general intensive care cubicles, and converting an existing theatre to help treat more patients.
One of those patients was Sian Morgan from Llanelli, who suffered severe burns to her face, neck and upper limbs after a garden bonfire accident earlier this year.
She spent 10 days in the new intensive care unit, where she underwent skin grafting, followed by rehabilitation and ongoing scar management at the Burns Centre.
Talking about her experience, Sian said:
“The care I received throughout was excellent, from the moment the ambulance arrived up until I was discharged.
“I could not have asked for a better experience in the circumstances. It really was gold standard.
“The facilities were first class as well. Having a family room there was particularly helpful as my husband and family were back and forth while I was staying there. I couldn’t fault anything.”
If you do suffer a burn this Bonfire Night, here’s what to do:
• Move the person away from the heat source.
• Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm water for 20 minutes – do not use ice, creams or greasy substances.
• Remove any clothing or jewellery near the burnt area, unless it is stuck to the skin.
• Keep the person warm with a blanket, but avoid contact with the burn.
• Cover the burn with cling film or a clean plastic bag.
• Take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief.
• Visit the Burns and Scalds page on the NHS 111 Wales website for more advice.
• Only call 999 for serious or life-threatening emergencies.
By taking simple precautions and knowing how to respond, you can help keep Bonfire Night safe and enjoyable for everyone.
