Combat Stress co-hosts parliament event to encourage MPs to protect those affected by the harmful impact of fireworks

Ahead of Bonfire Night, Combat Stress co-hosted an event this week at the House of Commons, along with ten other charities, to highlight the need for a review of existing fireworks legislation and the harmful impact they have.

Along with Help for Heroes, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, Battersea, British Veterinary Association, Cats Protection, Children’s Burns Trust, The Kennel Club, PTSD UK and Dan’s Fund for Burns we welcomed 37 MPs to the fireworks coalition event to discuss how the law is failing to protect those affected by the unpredictable and loud noise of fireworks and why we are calling on the UK Government to urgently review the current legislation.

While each charity had a slightly different stance on what change should look like, the united message was clear. The UK Government needs to conduct a review of existing fireworks legislation, and introduce further restrictions on where, when and how they can be used.

Through better regulating the use of fireworks, we hope to limit the unnecessary distress that can be inflicted on many veterans with PTSD and other mental health issues, during fireworks season, and spontaneously throughout the year.

With many council run fireworks displays across the UK being cancelled owing to the cost of holding the events, we are concerned that there may be a rise in people holding firework displays at home, with no restrictions on where the fireworks are let off, or for how long the noise will last.

We hope the event will be the catalyst for change that will drastically help many veterans

In the meantime, we're asking the public to buy silent fireworks instead of noisy ones, and we urge them to understand how distressing noisy fireworks can be for military veterans.