So sick of the constant stupid fireworks

[MrsKeats]

When will they hurry up and ban fireworks for private sale?
Have 2 dogs shivering under the sofa. Huge bangs outside. What if you have a baby in bed?
Anti social behaviour if you ask me.
Take your kids to a proper display.

[quote Maverickess]@Needaholiday2021

that’s unusual as usually dementia patients remember their childhood and younger years fondly and fireworks definitely featured heavily for many through those younger years.

Unfortunately that's not really a true description of dementia, but a popular one that people like to think happens, they're not just a bit forgetful, dementia destroys the brain.
I work with people who don't recognise their own children, who have no idea how to feed themselves or indeed what food is and who can't community effectively, if at all except with behaviour. So no, it's not 'unusual' for someone suffering with dementia to not understand what the noise from fireworks are and rationalise it because they might have been to a few displays as a child, some of the people I've been with tonight don't understand what I'm saying to them and only kind touch and presence has helped, so explanations haven't worked either.

The memory of what caused the fear and upset also is usually immediately lost, but not the adrenaline it's caused or the emotions evoked, so we've just managed to get the last one settled - in a chair in the lounge because he's too worked up and upset to be on his own - but he doesn't know why.
Only 3 of our residents were bothered negatively this year, but it was enough to cause problems over the whole unit and unsettle everyone else - even those who enjoyed watching them out of the window.

But if you want to carry on thinking that dementia patients are fine because they go back to their childhood and will have attended fireworks displays, so that there's no bad feeling, go right ahead, but know that actually, you're misinformed.

Thanks to the other posters who've sent support and wishes, we all made it through, till tomorrow night and it all starts again that is.........[/quote]
I am glad you all made it through. I was also shocked and replied in a similar vein to that person.

Dementia is so misunderstood. They are often frightened and confused on an average night, so fireworks night was always really difficult on our unit. You would end up specialing patients that were usually ok. We had one patient who would become violent because, as you say, they are full of adrenaline with no idea why.

People just don't think. Pets are one thing but it actually really badly affects the vulnerable in our society, but as long as Keith and Dave are having a good laugh that's ok...

@DrCoconut

The problem with organised displays is that they are often far too loud and very crowded with lots of standing around. If you do your own you have a lot more control over it and can choose a small selection of quiet fireworks, a few sparklers and nip out to watch them between hotdogs and parkin. With autistic DC this is preferable and allows them to take part in a traditional event. That said this year I was able to get tickets for a quiet firework display that only lasted 6 minutes which was perfect for us. Numbers were controlled too which was even better and everyone was ok.

Every single person around here bought the loudest fireworks possible. I heard every single bang.

People aren't as considerate as you seem to think! At least displays are one or two specific nights a year, loud or not. People around here have been going for months.

So no. It's not more controlled or convenient. Two twats were out there on the green setting them off last night. They were loud and anyone could have gotten hurt passing by.

I have 2 dogs , one of which is petrified of loud noises (rescue dog) and a husband with PTSD. We can just about deal with the organiser displays but the random fireworks whenever any one feels like it are just not on. Someone near me let one off at 5am this morning making my dogs go crazy.

Ambulance crew had a hoax call last night to someone not breathing to lure them in and then got attacked with fireworks, as did the police

My friend asked some youths to not let off fireworks as she and her two children walked past; they responded by threatening to put them through her letterbox. She had to tape it up and spent a semi-sleepless night worrying.
Fireworks are small explosive incendiary devices and many people are way too thick to be trusted with them, unfortunately.

@Phyllis321

My friend asked some youths to not let off fireworks as she and her two children walked past; they responded by threatening to put them through her letterbox. She had to tape it up and spent a semi-sleepless night worrying. Fireworks are small explosive incendiary devices and many people are way too thick to be trusted with them, unfortunately.

Fucking savages 😡

Yep, utter arseholes.

@BackBackBack

Finally packed up here at about 4am. Even with the sedative dog would not settle. DH stayed on the sofa with him.

This makes me so mad. Sadistic cunts.

Fuck the government for allowing this barbaric behaviour.

I have hated fireworks ever since I visited my little brother in hospital about 45 years ago and the little boy across the ward from him had been badly burnt by a firework. It's one of my traumatic childhood memories! My brother has an equally traumatic childhood recollection of witnessing childhood yobs tying fireworks to a cats tail, poor thing; thank God I didn't see that, it would traumatised me for life.

I think they are dangerous and shouldn't be in the hands of Joe Public. Official displays with certified handlers and health and safety.. fine.

Saying that, I once visited New Delhi over the Diwali. If you think UK is bad for street fireworks, you have seen nothing. It was horrific.

@Ghoulette

Yes, exactly. I have no objection to the night itself, a bit of fun, some pretty lights, nice food etc but the noise is so anti social, and time and again they fall into the hands of the wrong people, it's not just now and again it happens, I'm disgusted by ambulance and police personnel being lured into attacks, something really needs to be done about this. Unfortunately for those who use them truly only once a year and safely, I think restrictions on sales of the lower level ones to the public is just sensible when they're being weaponised like this and causing so many problems for humans and animals alike.

It's another example of out of touch Mps who allow this barbarism and sadistic behaviour. They live in their nice houses in their plush middle class neighbourhoods and don't know how awful it is for people on estates or densely populated areas, having to deal with the cruelty of loud fireworks all winter.

My friend asked some youths to not let off fireworks as she and her two children walked past; they responded by threatening to put them through her letterbox. She had to tape it up and spent a semi-sleepless night worrying.

How many deaths or serious injuries do fireworks cause every year!

I’ve heard of some many times idiots putting them through letterboxes for a laugh not realising they serious consequences of it.

I’ve just read how police officers were injured by having fireworks thrown at them last night.

They should only be sold and used for organised events.

As someone said upthread, they are a relic and we should know better by now

that’s unusual as usually dementia patients remember their childhood and younger years fondly and fireworks definitely featured heavily for many through those younger years.

@NeedAHoliday2021 that may be your experience but I can tell you it's definitely not mine. My Mum has dementia and has forgotten that she has siblings, cannot remember where she used to live, where she grew up, where she went to school, her first pet - all gone from her memory. She finds fireworks utterly terrifying because she doesn't understand what they are or what's happening.

And there’ll be a repeat performance tonight. And probably tomorrow night as well.

My kids ( if asleep) have never been woken by fireworks. My dog hates it though. We go to a organised display, as gardens too small here. I would support fireworks to only be sold to displays or for weddings. I actually find new year worse for the dog the house is quiet at midnight but busy at 7pm.

I like fireworks but I also think it should be public displays only

I think a limit on the nights they can be arranged for is reasonable to

Never really affected my children but I feel for pet owners

I love fireworks and live a good display but do think they should be limited to public displays now.

It would be ok if it was just 1 or 2 nights, but they’ve been going on for weeks round here.

I know the dates of the public displays so can plan accordingly. I don’t know that number 62 is randomly going to set off huge fireworks in their garden at 11pm on Tuesday night.

It was awful round here last night. My dog is frightened of them, despite trying to desensitise her to them. I’d seen something called quiet ears and gave it a go last night. She was much calmer and chilled with me on the sofa rather than desperately pacing and trying to get into the washing machine.

It’s not just dogs, earlier last week my friend’s neighbour set off huge fireworks just feet away from her elderly horses stable. Neighbour didn’t warn her, horse is now badly injured as he was so frightened by them.

It’s just about being considerate. Warn your neighbours, stick to the main nights of the year that they’re expected. I expected them last night, I expect them tonight. We’re prepared.

I have horses too. One of them isn’t bothered by fireworks, the other one is. People shouldn’t be setting off fireworks close fields and buildings with livestock and horses in anyway, but they do , but I can at least be prepared and sedate them/make a decision whether they’re safer in or out/stay with them if I’m warned.

I woke this morning to rockets which hadn't been used properly (they still had long stick attached which I thought was supposed to stay behind) in my back garden - they they had destroyed an animal habitat area that my daughter was building My poor cat was terrified last night as was my youngest autistic child. The crackpots across the street built a fire (which last year was put out by the fire brigade) and were letting fireworks off in all directions as young kids ran around unsupervised.

I hate that fireworks are sold to any Tom, Dick or Harry. I think they should be only used in properly managed displays.

@PinkWaferBiscuit

don’t see why we should be expected to stop a long-standing tradition which brings cheer to so many.

No one is saying we should stop fireworks entirely. Why can't public displays be a considered and reasonable compromise?

I don’t recall seeing any posts saying that there should be a blanket ban of fireworks, either. I don’t think that myself. But they should be restricted to public displays IMO.

I have 3 cats that were hiding away last night, but that’s not the main reason why I think that. Mainly for safety reasons, but also for the sake of those who have PTSD/dementia. My MIL can be very startled by them herself, having been a small child in London during the blitz.

This comes up every year around Diwali on my community FB and the racism on these threads is more thinly disguised every year.

@Barbie222

This comes up every year around Diwali on my community FB and the racism on these threads is more thinly disguised every year.

What racism?

No one has said Diwali shouldn't be celebrated, we have a public display for Diwali where I live and its very well organised and attended.

Just like with other holidays and celebrations public displays would be completely reasonable but private displays should be either prohibited or the public should only be able to purchase silent or quiet fireworks for use at home. No discrimination, no racism just consideration for both sides of the argument.

@FrenchyQ

I have 2 dogs , one of which is petrified of loud noises (rescue dog) and a husband with PTSD. We can just about deal with the organiser displays but the random fireworks whenever any one feels like it are just not on. Someone near me let one off at 5am this morning making my dogs go crazy.

Again, I'd like to highlight a post where it's actual human suffering happening because people want to watch some pretty lights. People don't realise it's not just pets, people have conditions which make them vulnerable when it comes to literal explosions happening on their doorstep.

I also have bad PTSD and the only thing keeping me from sheer panic at the moment is medication. I hope your husband is ok, as well as DDog