§ 20. Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the 2,796 accidents needing hospital treatment caused by fireworks in the period 15th October to 10th November, 1962, what consultations he has had with the British Firework Manufacturers' Safety Association to decrease the dangers from fireworks during 1963; and what action he contemplates.
§ Mr. BrookeThe analysis of injuries caused by fireworks during this period which were treated at hospitals has just been completed, and I am circulating the results in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I am sending copies of these figures to the British Fireworks Manufacturers' Safety Association and inviting them to discuss them with my Department.
§ Mr. BoydenWill the right hon. Gentleman say what pattern of accidents is revealed by a study of the figures and whether the firework manufacturers can do something to remedy this pattern of accidents?
§ Mr. BrookeI think the hon. Member will see that the figures are set out in considerable detail. Fortunately, out of 2,800 accidents, 1,800 were only minor injuries.
§ Mr. LoveysWould not my right hon. Friend agree that many of these accidents are caused by home-made fireworks and not by those made by members of the British Firework Manufacturers' Safety Association, and by the misuse of sodium chlorate?
§ Mr. BrookeThis is just the sort of matter which the association may wish to discuss with us at the discussions to which I have invited it.
| FIREWORKS INJURIES IN ENGLAND AND WALES, 1962 | |
| The figures given below analyse in various ways information obtained from hospitals in England and Wales relating to the 2,832 persons who received hospital treatment for injuries caused by fireworks between 15th October and 12th November, 1962. | |
| A. Place where injury occurred | |
| (i) Family or private party | 1,200 |
| (ii) Public or semi-public party in park or open space e.g. sports club | 531 |
| (iii) Casual incident in street | 816 |
| (iv) Other places | 161 |
| (v) Unknown | 124 |
| B. Type of firework involved | |
| (i) Squib or cheap banger | 1,105 |
| (ii) More expensive banger | 131 |
| (iii) Rocket | 266 |
| (iv) Jumping cracker or "fly-about" type | 270 |
| (v) Display firework (e.g. roman candle) | 483 |
| (vi) Other than above (including home made firework) | 206 |
| (vii) Unknown | 371 |
| C. Circumstances leading to injury | |
| (i) Ignition in pocket | 157 |
| (ii) Accidental ignition in box or container | 115 |
| (iii) Examining firework after faulty or delayed ignition | 371 |
| (iv) Holding firework in hand | 570 |
| (V) Deliberate misuse | 645 |
| (vi) Other causes | 637 |
| (vii) Unknown | 337 |
| D. Age groups of persons injured | |
| (i) Over 21 | 418 |
| (ii) 16–20 | 264 |
| (iii) 13–15 | 664 |
| (iv) Under 13 | 1,486 |
| E. Nature of injury | |
| (i) Eye | 1,038 |
| (ii) Face | 642 |
| (iii) Hand | 978 |
| (iv) Other parts of body | 687 |
§ (These figures total more than 2,832 because some victims received injuries in two or more of the categories.)
| F. Severity of injury | |
| (i) Died | 0 |
| (ii) Admitted to hospital | 483 |
| (iii) Not admitted to hospital but injury severe | 505 |
| (iv) Minor injury | 1,828 |
| (v) Unknown | 16 |