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Our Dark Nights Campaign

Our campaign will be promoting relevant messages throughout October and November this year. As the Dark nights draw closer we’ll be actively sharing messages of how to stay safe on the roads, and how you can safely enjoy Halloween and Bonfire night.

Safe On The Roads

With the nights drawing in, your daily commutes may now be in the dark.

We’re asking parents and guardians to share our tips for staying safe now the nights are drawing closer. If your child regularly cycles or walks, please ensure they are ‘bright’ and that they are ready for the darker nights.

 

ALWAYS

  • Always wear a helmet when riding a bike, even for short journeys
  • Make sure you have lights on your bike and they are charged up or you have spare batteries in your bag.
  • Make sure your front light is white and your rear light is red so other road users know which way you are travelling
  • Wear high visibility clothing during the day and reflective clothing or have reflective strips for when it gets darker. Doesn’t have to be a jacket, could be gloves, vests, sashes, bags or even bikes
  • Make sure your bike is fitted with front, side and rear reflectors at all times
  • If you’re walking keep to footpaths where there is one. If there isn’t one keep to the right hand side so you can see on-coming traffic
  • Pay attention to your surroundings, take out earphones so you can hear vehicles approaching

Halloween And Bonfire Night

With Halloween and Bonfire Night approaching we thought it would be a good opportunity to remind people the importance of staying safe, whilst having fun.

Whilst most people enjoy fireworks responsibly, in the wrong hands they can cause problems.

Remember fireworks are explosives and should be treated as such – the manufacturer’s instructions should be followed at all times, along with the ‘firework code’

The Children’s Burns trust predicts that this year 500 children and their families will join the growing number of people who will remember bonfire night for the wrong reasons. They will have been injured as a result of an accident with fireworks. More information can be found on their website, Fireworks – Children’s Burns Trust (cbtrust.org.uk)

The most enjoyable way to watch fireworks is at a planned event. The fireworks will be larger, you don’t have to worry about safety and you will be part of the audience. If you choose to have your own firework display there are some tips further down this page on how you and your guests can stay safe.

 

KEEPING SAFE ON HALLOWEEN

  • Stick together on Halloween night, keep with your family and friends
  • Ensure that any costumes or decorations you buy have the CE label on them, this ensures they meet the required fire safety standard.
  • Make sure decorations do not block your escape routes from your home, never put them on the fireplace or near anything warm
  • If you’re driving over the Halloween period, remember there may be a lot more children around so take extra care
  • For some people, such as older or vulnerable people, Halloween can be intimidating and distressing. Please respect homes which display ‘no trick or treat’ notices

CONSIDER

  • Why not swap candles in your pumpkin for a safer battery LED candle, they do the same job but are far less likely to start a fire. If you do use candles with a real flame make sure not to go near them with your costumes on

BONFIRES AND SPARKLERS

  • Always stand really far back from bonfires, it’s not safe to stand too close and you will be able to see better if you are a bit further back
  • Check for hedgehogs and other wildlife which may have taken shelter in your bonfire before lighting
  • Don’t build bonfires close to trees, hedges or sheds
  • Make sure the bonfire is out and surrounding areas are made safe before leaving
  • Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves. They burn at about 2,000 degrees – That's 20 times hotter than boiling water. Put it in a metal bucket or a bucket of water or sand when you have finished with it.

NEVER

  • Never use paraffin or petrol on a bonfire
  • Never leave a lit bonfire unattended
  • Never give sparklers to a child under five

REMEMBER

Stop, Drop and Roll

Do you know what to do if your clothes catch fire from a sparkler, firework, or bonfire?
Check out our tips and make sure to practice stop, drop, and roll!

If your clothes do catch on fire don’t panic!

    • STOP what you are doing.
    • DROP to the ground and cover your face with your hands.
    • ROLL around on the ground to put out the flames.

In the event of clothing setting on fire the instinct is to run, so, before your fireworks celebrations, it’s important to teach children to stop, drop to the ground, cover their face with their hands, and roll over a few times to put out flames.
You can turn it into a fun game in the garden to practice these safety steps.

 

FIREWORKS

  • Only responsible adults over the age of 18 should light fireworks
  • Stand well back from fireworks
  • Only buy fireworks which carry the CE mark, keep them in a closed box and use them one at a time
  • Light the firework at arm’s length, with a taper and stand well back
  • Keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks
  • Always keep fireworks in a sealed box
  • Read and follow the instructions on each firework

NEVER

  • Never return to a firework once it has been lit
  • Never put fireworks in your pockets and never throw them
  • Never throw a firework on to a bonfire

A Reminder From Our Colleagues at North Yorkshire Police

  • Never set off or throw fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or other public place
  • You must not set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, except for Bonfire Night (November 5) when the cut off is midnight, New Year’s Eve (December 31), Diwali (October 31, 2024) and Chinese New Year (January 29, 2025) when the cut off is 1am.
  • You can only buy fireworks (including sparklers) from registered sellers, for private use between 15 October and 10 November, 26 December and 31 December and three days before Diwali and Chinese New Year. At all other times, you can only buy fireworks from licensed shops.
  • You can be fined an unlimited amount and imprisoned for up to six months for selling or using fireworks illegally. You could also get an on-the-spot fine of £90
  • More information on fireworks and the law can be found here  Fireworks: the law – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please speak with your children and teenagers about the importance of using fireworks safely and the consequences of improper use.

What We’re Doing

This year we’re committed to deliver our Dark nights presentation to as many schools as we can reach across the county.

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