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Lisburn City Council’s Environmental Services Department in partnership with the Home Accident Prevention Group, Fire Authority, and the PSNI have launched their Halloween Safety Campaign to raise awareness of the potential Health & Safety risks that parents should be aware of when participating in the season’s festivities. In 2007, 97 people experienced firework related injuries (a 41% increase on 2006).The vast majority of injuries were experienced by those under the age of 18 and 87% of the injuries were experienced by males. As part of this year’s Halloween Safety Campaign, information booths were set up in Bow Street Mall and the Dairy Farm Centre to provide advice and to answer questions on safety over this Halloween period. 
Alderman Paul Porter, Chairman of the Environmental Services Committee, who attended the stands said: “ Halloween can be a very enjoyable time of year, however people can get carried away and forget the dangers and injuries that can be experienced at this time of year. We hope that our safety message is taken on board to prevent a further injuries “ Councillor Thomas Becket, Chairman of Lisburn DPP said: “ Most firework injuries occur in the street or other public places. Injuries are most commonly associated with bangers and rockets, which are illegal. To fire any type of fireworks you have to apply for an outdoor licence. “ Lisburn City Council have outlined the following guidelines to help you stay safe this Halloween. - Buy fireworks marked with BS 7114
- Keep fireworks in a closed box
- Follow the instructions on each firework
- Light fireworks at arms length using a taper
- Stand well back when fireworks are going off
- Never go back to a lit firework
- Never put fireworks in your pocket
- Never throw fireworks
- Keep pets indoors
- Only light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves
- Never give a sparkler to a child under five
- The use of bangers is illegal.
- Parents should ensure that products purchased at Halloween e.g. Halloween wigs, hats, masks and capes, are CE marked and that children are kept away from naked flames when in Halloween costumes.
Lisburn City Council is also reminding local retailers of their responsibilities. Firework retailers must register with the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and must not sell fireworks to anyone under the age of 16 – a warning notice to this effect should be displayed at the point of sale. Sparklers should only be sold if they carry a warning on the packaging, stating that they must not be given to children under the age of five. For further information about safety this Halloween, contact Lisburn City Council’s Environmental Services Department on 028 9250 9250 or email: eh@lisburn.gov.ukor contact the Northern Ireland Office on 028 9052 7668 and further information on firework safety can be found on the following websites: www.saferfireworks.com www.berr.gov.uk/fireworks 
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