As we light the bonfires and launch the rockets to celebrate November 5 tonight, there's a warning to keep safe.

This Bonfire night, St John Ambulance volunteers will be stationed at 40 venues in Kent where they are having firework displays so that they can treat any accidents.

The most common injuries are burns or people getting things in the eye.

Mark Cummings, who is head of community training at the service, said it's important people know what to do in an emergency: "For burns - don't slap on any creams or ointments, just put it under cold water for ten minutes. Wrapping it in cling film calms inflammation.
For scolds to the eye, you do want to get the object out but don't damage your eye - water cleans it but don't use anything else."

top bonfire night safety tips

keep fireworks in a closed box and use them one at a time

read and follow the instructions on each firework using a torch if necessary

light the firework at arm's length with a taper and stand well back

keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks

don't put fireworks in pockets and never throw them

never use paraffin or petrol on a bonfire

source: rospa

He added: "If the burn is bigger than your palm, call an ambulance."

Bonfire night is the most demanding time of year for the service - making it difficult for volunteers to get to other non-related firework incidents.

Mr Cummings said: "We are at our limits over the whole weekend and we have about a thousand volunteers, but each of those 40 venues need two to three first-aiders - so we are really stretched at this time of year."

Bonfire night is just the start of the charity's busy period. Last year, St John Ambulance Kent attended over 1,480 public events throughout the county where they treated more than a thousand people.

Mr Cummings concluded: "We want people to have fun and enjoy the fireworks whether it's in the back garden or at an event but be aware accidents do happen."