During this Fourth of July holiday weekend, it is important to remember that safety should be at the top of your mind whether you are enjoying a small get-together at home with friends and family or attending a large-scale gathering.
Police and fire departments across the country experience a sharp spike in vehicle crashes, personal injuries and fires over the course of this weekend, and it is important to always be sensible, follow local and federal laws and review safety regulations no matter the type of celebration you are attending.
The following safety tips, courtesy the Red Cross, should be reviewed by all members of your family to ensure a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July weekend:
Fireworks Safety
- Know the rules: The possession, use and sale of certain large-scale fireworks without a professional license is illegal in many states. Massachusetts prohibits the possession of all fireworks, including sparklers.
- Enjoy the show: The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public firework show put on by professionals. Stay at least 500 feet away from the show. Leave any area immediately where untrained amateurs are using fireworks.
Picnic safety
- Wash your hands before preparing the food.
- Don’t leave food out in the hot sun. Keep perishable foods in a cooler with plenty of ice or freezer gel packs.
- If you are going to cook on the grill, never grill indoors. Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, the deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.
- Always supervise the grill when in use. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited. Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to keep the chef safe.
- Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill.
Beach safety
- Watch the weather and get out of the water at the first sign of lightning or the rumble of thunder. Stay indoors and away from water for 30 minutes after the last lightning flashes or thunder roars.
- Swim only at a beach with a lifeguard, within the designated swimming area. Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards and ask them about local conditions.
- Always designate a “water watcher” whose sole responsibility is to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over
- Children, inexperienced swimmers, and all boaters should wear properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
- Protect your neck – don’t dive in headfirst. Walk carefully into open waters. Watch out for and avoid aquatic life.
- If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and don’t fight it. Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Then, turn and swim to shore. If you can’t swim to shore, float or tread water until you are free of the rip current and then head toward shore. Draw attention to yourself by waving and calling for help.
Impaired Driving Awareness
Keep these tips in mind, courtesy the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, when attending a party or gathering this Fourth of July weekend:
- If you plan to drink, make a plan ahead of time for a sober ride home.
- Even if you’ve had only one drink, let someone who hasn’t been drinking take you home. A sober driver is one who does not drink at all, not the one who’s had the least to drink.
- If you’re hosting a Fourth of July gathering, help the designated drivers out by making sure there are plenty of non-alcoholic beverages available.
- Have a friend who is about to drive impaired? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
- If you see an impaired driver on the road, safely pull over and call 911.
- Always wear your seat belt – and wear it correctly. It should go over your shoulder and across your lap.