A LEADING GP has urged residents to take special care ahead of this week’s bonfire night celebrations.

NHS Digital figures show at least 3,591 people attended A&E in England with a firework-related injury over the Halloween and Bonfire months between 2015 and 2019.

Dr David White, a Burnley GP and the clinical lead for urgent care at NHS Blackburn with Darwen and NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Groups, said: “The message at this time of year is stay safe, please make sure a safe distance is kept away from fireworks and bonfires at all times, wrap up well and get home safely if you are out celebrating.

“Sadly, despite annual warnings, it is inevitable that our region’s accident and emergency departments see firework and bonfire related injuries around this time of year.

“My advice is to go to an organised fireworks display, where all appropriate precautions will have been considered and in place.”

There is readily available advice on hosting your own fireworks or bonfire, which includes only buying fireworks from reputable retailers, ensuring that they are CE marked and following instructions inside what should be a closed metal box.

Fireworks should be kept on a stable surface and lit at arms length using a taper. Then, everyone should stand well back and never return back to a lit firework.

Household rubbish should never be put on a bonfire, which should also be within a contained area and well away from people, properties and trees.

Further advice can be found online at: www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/safety/safety-advice/bonfires-and-fireworks