Emergency medicine specialists have issued a warning on the safe use of fireworks at Halloween time.

The doctors say their advice is based on their experience of treating many firework-related injuries of varying degrees of severity in the country's hospital emergency departments.

The Irish Association for Emergency Medicine (IAEM) says fireworks have been associated with very occasional deaths, but much more commonly caused burns and blast injuries to the upper limb (mainly to the fingers and hand) and to the eyes.

The majority of such injuries leave permanent disfigurement and/or disability, and more children than adults get hurt by fireworks and fireworks-related injuries increase at the time around Halloween.

The IAEM says fireworks are generally safe if you use them properly and following some simple measures will ensure that your firework display is enjoyable and safe:

The specialists say:
  *Adults should ensure that children are kept away from fireworks.
  *"Sparklers" can get up to five times hotter than cooking oil and they should never be given to a child under five, even under supervision.
  *Some fireworks can only be used by firework professionals. These include air bombs, aerial shells, aerial maroons, shells-in-mortar and maroons-in-mortar, all bangers, mini-rockets and fireworks with erratic flight.
  *Only one person should be in charge of fireworks. This person should remain vigilant until the last firework has been safely discharged. Read the instructions in daylight and don’t drink any alcohol until all have been
discharged.
 * Make your preparations in advance, and in daylight or with a torch (never a naked flame).

The IAEM says for a fireworks display you should have to hand:
* A torch.
* A bucket or two of water.
* Eye protection and gloves.
* A bucket of soft earth to put fireworks in.
* Suitable supports and launchers if you’re setting off Catherine wheels or rockets.

You should also take precautions to protect your pets during the times of the year when fireworks are likely to be set off.

If you are organising a firework display for the general public, read the Guidance Document on Organised Pyrotechnic Displays available from the Department of Environment and Local Government.