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Pains Wessex, the UK leader of pyrotechnic marine rescue distress signals – part of the globally renowned, Wescom Group – announces a new series of flare amnesty days for Spring 2022.

Giving the public a safe and convenient route to dispose of out-of-date flares, Pains Wessex’s amnesty days are open for all boaters to hand over their old pyrotechnics, regardless of the brand, age or condition of their pyrotechnics. The sessions will be held at accessible locations along the South Coast, kicking off next month.

Each of the days will run from 10:30 to 15:30, and customers will be served on a first-come, first-served basis.

• 2^nd April – Sea Safety Day at Macsalvores, The Boathouse, Commercial Road, Penryn, TR10 8AE
• 23^rd April – Sea Safety Day at Universal Marina, Crableck Lane, Sarisbury Green, Southampton, SO31 7ZN
• 14^th May – Pains Wessex Flare Amnesty at Poole Yacht Club, The Yacht Haven, New Harbour Road West, Hamworthy, Poole, BH15 4AQ

Anyone using the service is invited to make a cash donation for the flare disposal, which will go towards a series of charities. For Penryn, the donations will go to the local RNLI station, Cornwall Air Ambulance and Southwest First Responders. For Poole and Southampton, the charities are the Jubilee Sailing Trust, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, Wetwheels Foundation and Sail2Help.

This year’s flare amnesties return by popular demand, following three successful events last year. In 2021, Pains Wessex took back 2,430 out of date pyrotechnics, with the oldest expiring in 1964. Donations from the events raised over £1,800 for the chosen charities.

Pains Wessex Sales Executive, Ally Ogg, comments, “Having a working flare onboard can be lifesaving in an emergency situation. Pyrotechnics remain the most globally recognised method of signalling distress and it is vital that everyone keeps their kit up to date. Disposal of flares continues to be a problem around the world, so we are making it easy for boaters to bring them to us to dispose of, safely and responsibly.”

A variety of new pyrotechnics will be available to purchase at a discounted price for those using the service, alongside the opportunity to answer any questions and discuss any concerns with a brand representative.

This initiative is part of Wescom Group’s wider commitment to serving and improving standards across the industry, whilst saving lives at sea. The brand has also developed a myth-busting  animation, dispelling misinformation about flares derived from common, false information. Watch them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_z6yXBChSM

Wescom Group, which is headquartered in Draycott, Derbyshire, manufactures the Pains Wessex, Comet, Aurora and Oroquieta brands and is the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of SOLAS, MED and USCG-approved pyrotechnic marine distress signals to the commercial and leisure marine markets. As a manufacturer of lifesaving products, Wescom Group is committed to safety, quality, and reliability.

For more information about Pains Wessex, please visit www.painswessex.com.

For more information about Wescom Group, please visit www.wescom-group.com