Safety Tips for Fourth of July Celebrations

One of the most common sounds on the Fourth Of July unfortunately is not the explosions in the sky. It is the sound of fire engines and other emergency response vehicles traveling to attend to people who failed to celebrate the holiday safely. Most of these injuries can be prevented, if when celebrating this holiday you use common sense. Some of these suggestions may seem obvious to you, and others you might not have thought of. Both categories though are very important when having a happy and safe Fourth of July celebration.

The first rule of course is one you will hear quite often. Do not drink and drive! This applies not only to those of you that are driving on the roads, but also to the boaters. Remember, the water will be more crowded than usual, and the last thing you need is to have your judgment impaired while sharing the water with boaters who may not be very experienced.

If you are hosting a cookout, keep in mind a couple safety precautions that aren't always highlighted this time of year. One of the least publicized but most common risks during July 4th cookouts is food-borne illnesses. Make sure that you cook your meat you are serving on the grill to the correct temperature. Also be aware of how long dishes with mayonnaise are kept outside in the sun. After about two hours, the risk of food-borne illnesses due to items containing mayonnaise sitting under the hot sun increases significantly.

Food isn't the only risk when hosting a July 4th cookout. If you are having a cookout where a pool is on the premises or a natural body of water is accessible, make sure you keep a close eye on the young children at your cookout. Everyone knows how easy it is to lose track of a child while socializing with friends and family, when there are bodies of water around the risks involved are multiplied.