lydia said..
There is some really dum **** on this thread.
By there very nature the contents of a flare are unstable.
Expired flares should never be used ever.
Three recent examples.
The student at a training day firing an expired parachute flare in correct manner where upon ignition it fired backwards blowing the detonator and part of the phororous flare into his stomach. When the company was sued the answer was it was out of date so no responsibility.
The flare demonstration with expired red flare that fired out the side of the tube when ignited.
Lastly the flare that fired itself while been handled by the instructor in a classroom and set fire to the ceiling.
Be careful people.
And none of that would have happend with a brand new flare???
There is risk when handling and using any pyro/propellant or explosive device .
There is also a difference between using them and setting them off.
I do find it hard to believe that they use old flares in demonstrations
a very bad cat Felix 
