As an air ambulance company—we’re obsessed with safety—we want to make sure your Independence day enjoyment is in full-affect and uninterrupted. That’s why we’ve pulled together a few must-follow safety tips from the experts to keep your Fourth of July fun, safe and memorable.
Here are some must-follow safety tips to keep your Independence Day emergency-free:
1. Fireworks?
What Fourth of July is complete without fireworks? (Exactly.) Here are the basics you need to keep in mind before the light show:
- Store your fireworks in a cool, dry place away from kids and pets.
- As a precaution, keep a water supply in close proximity.
- Light just one firework at a time – never ever attempt to relight a “dud”.
- Never throw or point a firework in the direction of people, animals, cars, or anything flammable.
- Never give kids fireworks and always follow the directions on the package.
- At a party with a “loose cannon”? Keep a safe distance or (preferably) leave the area when amateurs are handling fireworks.
2. Keep your BBQ and chef safe.
Each year people in the U.S. are injured using their backyard charcoal or gas grills. Here are a few safety tips before you grill up that something delicious:
- Never grill indoors, (in a house, covered patio, tent, camper or any enclosed area).
- Make sure everyone, especially kids and pets, stay away from the grill.
- Use your long-handled tools made for cooking on the grill.
- Never add charcoal starter fluid after coals have already been ignited.
- Always supervise your barbecue grill while it’s in use.
3. Catching some rays?
Nothing beats fun-in-the-sun, but make sure you are keeping these guidelines in mind:
- Limit your direct sun exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m..
- Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a protection factor of 15 at the minimum. Reapply often!
- Sport your shades for eye protection and don’t go barefoot long – sand and pavement can burn your feet.
- It’s hot out so it’s important to watch for signs of heat stroke, (including red skin, changes in consciousness, rapid or shallow breathing). If you think someone is having heat stroke move them quickly into a cooler place, apply cool, wet towels to their skin and call 9-1-1. Watch for signs of breathing issues, be sure the airway is clear and make sure the person is lying down.
4. Hitting the beach?
Catching some waves? Make sure you are following these safety tips, first:
- Swim at life-guarded beaches only.
- Watch the waves and make sure you have a feel for how to swim in the turf.
- Keep kids and less experienced swimmers in their Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
- Don’t dive headfirst – protect your neck. Walk carefully into those open waters.
- Keep a close eye and constant attention on children and adults.
- Be on the lookout for aquatic life – water plants and animals can be dangerous. Avoid patches with plants and leave animals alone.
- If you’re caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current. Once free, turn and swim toward shore. If you can’t swim to the shore, try floating or treading water until you’re free of the rip current and then head back to the shore.
5. Celebrating pool-side?
A swimming pool or hot tub makes everything better, right? Right, but it’s important to stay vigilant. Tragically, over 200 young children drown in backyard swimming pools every year. Here are some basic guidelines to keep your friends and family safe:
- Make sure your pool is completely fenced with a latching gate and place a safety cover over the pool or hot tub when they aren’t in use.
- Keep kids under supervision at all times – stay in an arm’s reach of them. Consider life jackets for young, inexperienced swimmers.
- Designate a responsible person to watch the water whenever anyone is in the pool – never let anyone swim alone.
- Set some basic safety guidelines for your pool, like “no diving”, “swim with a friend”, “don’t run near the pool”, and “keep away from drain covers”.
Finally, please drink responsibly. Don’t let friends drive or swim drunk – have a designated driver or use a ride hailing service if you are planning on drinking this Fourth of July.
At Angel MedFlight World Wide Air Ambulance, we want to make sure you’re having the safest and most enjoyable holiday possible. Some of these tips may seem obvious, but they can save lives.
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