4th of July Safety Tips

For Americans, the 4th of July is the biggest and most celebrated holiday of the year. It is a time when families, friends, and neighbors get together to enjoy social activities like BBQs, parties, and fireworks. Alcohol is often involved in the festivities. Fourth of July celebrations are fun and exciting, but they can also be a petri dish for injuries and accidents.

Observing and sharing the 4th of July safety tips listed below is crucial. Doing so will ensure that you and your love ones will have a good time on Independence Day. We can all agree that there is nothing worse than ruining a celebration by getting injured when everyone else is partying. Keeping this in mind, here are some tips that will keep you safe and secure when participating in the customary holiday activities.

Grilling Safety

According to the NFPA, an average of 16,600 patients per year go to emergency rooms because of injuries involving grills. In addition, grill fires on residential properties cost about $37 million in property loss each year. These statistics show that Americans are getting injured and losing money while grilling and barbecuing. Here are some tips to follow when using your backyard barbecue:

• Supervise your barbecue grill whenever you use it
• Do not use the barbecue grill indoors
• Make sure your pets are away from the grill
• Keep the grill away from anything that could easily catch fire
• Use long handle cooking tools when grilling to keep yourself safe

Firework Safety

In terms of safety, the best way to witness and enjoy fireworks is by attending a public firework show organized by professionals. Make sure you maintain a distance of at least 500 feet between yourself and the show. Please follow these guidelines if you are going to spark fireworks on your property:

• Wear eye protection
• Closely follow the instructions on a the packaging and keep them away from minors
• Have a first-aid kit and enough water nearby
• Don’t light more than one firework at a time
• Store your fireworks in a dry and cool place
• Don’t hurl or aim fireworks towards any property, individual, animal or flammable material.

Beach Safety

If you plan on visiting the beach and swimming in the ocean, only swim in a beach that has lifeguards on duty. Also swim in the designated area. Some other tips include:

• Be aware of your local weather conditions
• Make sure you are sober when swimming
• Ensure that inexperienced swimmers and children wear a life jacket
• Refrain from diving headfirst into the water
• Keep  your eyes on children  

Rip Currents

Although a large number of Floridians are accustomed to the beach life, it is important to remember that a large number of deaths on American beaches are attributed to rip currents. A beach with breaking waves has a higher tendency of producing rip currents. Remember this:

• Stay a minimum of 100 feet away from jetties and piers. Permanent and strong rip currents usually exist close to these structures
• If you end up in a rip current, you should swim in a direction parallel to the shore until you swim out of it.

TAKE ACTION

Follow these safety tips and keep yourself, your family, and your neighbors safe during the holidays. Contact The Dash Cam Lawyer® for a free consultation if you or a family member has been injured during the holidays. Remember to be safe and celebrate responsibly. Happy 4th of July.