Fireworks, barbeque and some good 'ole fun in the sun!
What ever you have planned for the big holiday, we want to help avoid 'trip to the emergency room' from making its way onto your list of festivities this 4th of July. So here are few safety tips to keep in mind which may seem rather simple but are easily overlooked when you're having fun.
Fireworks Safety
Several cities have deemed it illegal to light fireworks in your backyard. So heading out to watch a professional display would be your safest bet. If not, then in addition to keeping a fire extinguisher and water nearby you also want to set up a safe boundary so kids don't step anywhere close to where fireworks are being lit. Parents, although your kids maye beg and plead, please don't allow anyone below 12 years of age to handle even sparklers. If you plan on a backyard display of your own where it's legal, here are few additional tips to keep in mind.
Pool Safety
While the kids splash around make sure there's a competent adult supervising. By competent, we mean 'designated driver' competent. In fact before they jump in you want to do a quick check for any protruding sharp edges or loose bolts even if it's your best friend's pool. If there's no swimming we hope there's at least a 6-foot fence with a locked gate so children have no way of sneaking in without supervision. It's summer, which means your kids will want to swim long after the 4th so here are a few more summer safety tips.
Barbeque Safety
We're not quite sure why some people still leave their lit grills unattended. Please keep an eye out when they're not. We mentioned fire extinguisher above and here we would like to add first aid kit for, yes you guessed it, minor burns. Then there's making sure all food is cooked to the proper temperature. The Department of Health has a food temprature guide to get you up to speed. After which you can go through these tips that guide you through a safe grilling process.
Pet Safety
Although your cat may have nine lives, we wouldn't recommend testing it. In addition to keeping your furry friends indoors many animal experts also suggest playing music in the background to drown out the noise of the fireworks. Before you head out to celebrate, do a quick check to make sure there's plenty of water and food for your dog or cat, in case you get delayed heading back home. Here's a good list of tips from the ASPCA to help your pets stay calm and safe this holiday.
What do you have planned this 4th of July? Drop us a line and share how much fun you had or if you love taking photos, feel free to post some on our Facebook wall or send us a tweet @ME911Inc and we might just highlight it on our blog! Have a great 4th of July!
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