10 Ways to Keep You and Your Family Safe This Fourth of July
In Rhode Island, summer truly begins when the Fourth of July arrives. It’s a holiday full of fireworks and food, barbecues and boating, family and friends. It can also be full of danger — and we’re not only talking about the fireworks.
Whether you’re lighting your own fireworks at home, going to a community show or heading somewhere else, here are 10 ways to help ensure a happy and healthy holiday:
- Stay
protected — and hydrated.
If you’re going to be outdoors during the day, use plenty of sunblock (and
bring extra). You’ll also want to drink water throughout the day, particularly
if you’re drinking alcohol (in which case don’t drive). It’s easy to get
dehydrated in the heat.
- Watch
what you eat. We’re not talking about
counting calories. We’re talking about making sure your food is fully cooked.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, meats (steaks, roasts or
chops) need to be cooked to 145 degrees Fahrenheit, ground meats to 160 and
poultry to 165.
- Watch
what you serve. If you’re heading to a party
and bringing food, put it in an insulated cooler with ice or ice packs so it
doesn’t grow harmful bacteria between the time you leave your house and the
time people dig in. Pull it from the fridge right before you leave for the
party.
- Don’t
drink and drive. We shouldn’t need to tell you
this, of course, but the period around the Fourth of July holiday is a deadly
one for drunk-driving fatalities.
- Don’t
drink and boat. Alcohol is a factor in about one-third
of recreational boating deaths, says the Coast Guard, so boating under the
influence is never a good idea.
- Make
sure everyone’s got a life jacket. If
you’re going to be near or on the water, life jackets are a must. On a boat, there
should be enough life preservers for everyone, and remember that kids need an
appropriately sized jacket.
- Lighting
fireworks? Be prepared. Keep
a hose or bucket of water close by, and make sure you’re not aiming at people,
animals, homes, plants or cars.
- Supervise
the kids. Youngsters shouldn’t be
lighting fireworks at all, and older kids need to be watched closely. Even
sparklers get much hotter than you think.
- Keep
your distance, too. Thousands of people show up
in the emergency room this time of the year with firework injuries. Don’t be
one of them!
- No matter what you’re doing, keep safety in mind at all times.
Those of us at Soucy Insurance wish you and yours a happy and safe Fourth!
