Safety Tips: The Fourth of July
Most American families think of the 4th of July as a chance to eat a lot of BBQ, play outside in the summer sun, and celebrate our country’s independence with fireworks at the end of that day. Though it truly is a joyous holiday, there are many hazards that come with all that food and fun. To help keep you and your family safe this 4th of July, here are some safety tips to remember on Wednesday:
Fireworks
- If you’re planning on buying smaller fireworks, do not let any children handle them, even before they are lit. (PR Newswire)
- Try to choose a large, paved surface to set fireworks off on (common sense: outside!) (PR Newswire)
- Avoid wooded or grassy areas. It’s far too easy for a wayward spark to catch on wood and grass. (PR Newswire)
- If possible, wet the launch site. This means, depending on the size of the fireworks, dump a bucket or two of water on the site, or hose the whole area down. (PR Newswire)
- Keep that water supply around to be ready to douse the flames at any time with water. (PR Newswire)
- Select an adult to watch over the flames and the wayward sparks, and be ready to put them out at a moment’s notice. (PR Newswire)
- Read the box to see how far away you should be standing to avoid any accidental injuries. Make sure all children present adhere to the distance.
- Try to keep pets indoors, or at least far away from the fireworks. Pets usually have weird reactions to loud noises and big commotions! (PR Newswire)
- Be wary of wind conditions. If there are strong winds, do not launch fireworks. (PR Newswire)
- Check the box that the fireworks come in to determine how long after the last flame you should wait to clean up. Sometimes, there are still a few sparks left in the box, even after it has seemed to stop.
Summer Sun
- One word: sunscreen. Of course, protection from the sun is always important, but it is especially vital if you plan on playing in the sun or the pool all day. (Remember: this goes for kids as well as adults!) To decide which sunscreens to use, see our past MommyPage articles! UV-Protective Clothing, Is Sunscreen Safe for my Child?
- Remember, if you prepare food in the morning, do not leave it outside all day. Many women (and men, too!) want to create a beautiful presentation of a buffet for their guests, but doing that too early can cause your food to spoil and/or rot. Though adults may know not to eat it, young kids aren’t as savvy to what can hurt them.
- If you have a pool, designate a few adults (rotate to give everyone a break) to play “lifeguard” and to make sure those cute little ones are swimming safely! To see more pool safety tips, check out one of our past MommyPage articles! Pool Safety Tips
- Make sure the kids go inside or sit in the shade every once and a while. Heat exhaustion or even heat stroke can occur quickly and suddenly in young children. To learn more about heat-related illnesses, read some of our past MommyPage articles: Signs of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke, 10 Tips to Prevent Heat Exhaustion/Stroke in Kids
- Be wary of bugs and insects around your area, and buy bug spray and insect repellent to protect all the kids running around in the backyard. For more on bugs and how to repel them, see these MommyPage articles: Is It Safe to Use Insect Repellent on Babies?, Insects of Summer
- Make sure there is always an adult watching the grill, or anything young kids can get burned on. We’re sure that’s not a good way to kick off Independence Day!
On behalf of all of us at MommyPage, have a safe and fun Fourth of July with all of your family and friends!
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