Safety tips for the 4th (and beyond)
The long holiday weekend means lots of things…cookouts, pool parties, BBQs, fireworks…and in some cases, visits to the ER.
In fact, fireworks-related injuries have increased 25% over the past 16 years, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
To keep you safe while using fireworks over the July 4th holiday, remember WOW:
- W for water, to douse fires.
- O for one at a time. Never light off multiple devices.
- W for walk away once it’s lit.
Other fireworks safety tips include reading and following the directions on each firework, buying them from reliable sellers, never reignite malfunctioning fireworks , never carry them in your pocket and (obviously) keep them away from children.
It’s not just fireworks, though…you should be careful of:
Insect bites Mosquitos and ticks can carry different diseases, like Zika and Lyme.
Dehydration and heatstroke Heat kills more people each year than tornados, hurricanes, floods or cold weather.
Sunburns Reapply a high SPF every 90 minutes or so to protect yourself
Drowning More than 4,000 people drown every year and one in five are under the age of 14. In addition, 31% of drownings involve alcohol use.
Food poisoning It’s more common than you think, particularly in the summer beacuse people handle raw meat when they’re grilling and don’t always wash their hands and also leave refrigerated food out too long.
Check out CBS New York, Fox Weather, the Cleveland Clinic and the CDC for more info.
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