Combat Stress calls on the public to switch to silent fireworks

With fireworks now on sale for Bonfire Night, we're asking the public to buy silent fireworks instead of noisy ones.

Many former servicemen and women with mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder experience distress at this time of year.

The smell of lingering smoke, flashes of light, loud explosions, shrill whistles and crackle of fireworks are very similar to the sights, sounds and smells of warfare. 

For veterans with PTSD, the brain is tricked into believing they’re hearing mortars overhead, grenades exploding, automatic weapons, bomb explosions, weapons firing and tracer rounds colouring the night sky.

It can be terrifying, leaving the veteran feeling back in a warzone and in real danger, unable to fully distinguish past from present.

Professor Catherine Kinane, Medical Director at Combat Stress, said:

“We see a higher rate of distress in veterans accessing our services at this time of year. Not only is this time of year challenging because of the grief surrounding Armistice, but the sound and sudden unexpected bangs of fireworks can be reminders of frontline combat where they were exposed to the horrors of war in service to this country.

“Firework displays bring people together and create a lot of joy for spectators. We don’t want to ruin anyone’s fun but we urge the public to understand how distressing noisy fireworks can be for military veterans.”

Tips advising veterans on how to cope with fireworks are available on our website here.