Andy Karmy / CC
There are a ton of lists floating around the internet that have to do with Fourth of July safety. So we went through and broke them down into five categories . . .
- Fireworks. Don’t let yourself have a relaxed attitude with them, because that’s how accidents happen. Don’t let kids use them unsupervised. Never use ILLEGAL fireworks. Never re-light a “dud.” And always have a hose handy.
- Grilling. Never leave your grill unattended. Don’t spray lighter fluid on an open flame, or leave the bottle next to the grill. Never use a grill inside an enclosed area, like a garage. And make sure it’s far enough away from anything that might catch fire.
- Water Safety. If you’ll be around water, the most important thing is to keep a close eye on the kids. Young kids can drown in as little as TWO INCHES of water. So you have to be careful, even if it’s just a baby pool. Around a real pool, you have to be even more cautious. And be careful about rip tides at the beach.
- Sun exposure. If you’re outside all day, you HAVE to wear sunblock. A recent study found super-high SPFs do make a difference . . . SPF 100 is better than SPF 50. So keep that in mind, find some shade, and drink plenty of water, so you don’t overheat.
- Your Pets. A lot of pets get spooked by fireworks and run away. So make sure their collar is on. Never take your dog to a fireworks display. In general, think about keeping them inside, just to be safe. And if you have people over, let THEM know not to let them outside too. (Prevention / NCFS / Red Cross / AVMA)
