“As we draw nearer to that time of year that many people and pets dread, and have been dreading all year, it is time to look at how it affects everyone and
how we can make improvements.
PTSD
People with PTSD spend most of their lives on high alert after suffering a traumatic incident. The most common PTSD sufferers are our veterans who have served their country in the face of battle.
One veteran told his story to the Dorset Echo of how Weymouth’s firework displays affect him. You can read his story in full here
PTSD UK also have an article titled Remember Remember Those With PTSD. It details how bonfire night affects everyone with PTSD. They also talk about the smoke from the bonfires and how the flashing lights and smell of smoke can be just as triggering. Read it in full here.
Animals
When it comes to fireworks and bonfire night we talk a lot about pets. We never seem to mention farm animals or wildlife. For equestrians it is a particularly
challenging time to know what to do best for their horses. For animals it is not just the sound that poses a problem. The debris left behind from the fireworks, the lighting of bonfires, and more.
To read about people’s stories of their struggles with their animals please click here.
Recommendations
It’s important that we consider how bonfire night can negatively impact those around us, here are some of my recommendations:
- Organised community displays in appropriate locations (Back gardens are no longer appropriate for the size and scale of fireworks sold)
- For Bonfire night to be celebrated on the first Saturday after the 5th of November. Except for when the 5th of November is a Saturday.
- For fireworks to be sold 1 week before bonfire night and to be gone from shops the day after. Same to be done for New Year.”
