4th of July Safety Tips

Julie BrodieNo CommentsLocal Events, Seasonal

fireworks

 

It’s the 4th of July ,and we all know what that means! Cookouts, hanging out poolside, boat rides, and of course fireworks.  It’s a day full of celebration and fun times, but remember, safety always comes first! Below, you can find a few safety tips. For more information, please visit here.

 

 

Food Safety

As temperatures rise, so does the risk for food contamination. To aid in the prevention of any food-related illness, follow these steps when grilling. The following steps are recommended by foodsafety.gov

  1. Sanitize. Wash your hands with soap and hot water! This will eliminate any bacteria on the skin that could potentially be passed onto food, thus contaminating it. This also goes for keeping your food preparation area clean and tidy as well.
  2. Separate. Always keep raw food separate from already cooked food to prevent cross contamination.
  3. Cook. Remember to cook food all the until it is done, experts recommend using a food thermometer.
  4. Chill out. Remember, some food need to be kept cold. Do not leave food out for more than 2 hours.

Pool Safety

Its hot outside, chilling out by the pool is only natural, right? Well, here are a few tips to keep the family safe by the water. Tips recommended by Pool Safely.

  1. Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your child when he or she is in or near water
  2. Teach children basic water safety tips
  3. Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments
  4. Have a telephone close by when you or your family is using a pool or spa

Sun Safety

They say Sunshine is good for the soul, and of course they mean in moderation. Nobody likes to be burning and itchy the day after an outdoor summer event. To prevent sunburn, follow these guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control especially during the peak sun hours (10 am -4 pm)

  1. Hang out in the shade, especially during midday hours.
  2. Wear clothing that covers your vulnerable areas that are not used to sun exposure.
  3. Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck.
  4. Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays.
  5. Use sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection. Reapply at least every 2 hours.

Firework Safety

Did you know that an average of 200 people visit the emergency room on the 4th of July? Remember, fireworks can be dangerous, causing serious burn and eye injuries. You can help prevent this, and maintain the fun by following a few simple tips provided by CPSC.

  1. Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
  2. Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don’t realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.
  3. Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
  4. Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
  5. Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
  6. Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
  7. Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
  8. After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.
  9. Are Fireworks legal in your state? Click here to find out!