4th of July Safety!!

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The July 4th weekend is quickly approaching, which means highways will be crowded, beaches bustling, grills grilling, and temperatures soaring!! To make sure that you, your family, and friends get to enjoy all of the fun
this weekend has to offer, we're offering some great tips to keep everyone safe!

Travel tips to keep you safe on the highway:

• Carry an emergency preparedness kit in your trunk.
• Buckle up, slow down and do not drive if you have been drinking alcohol
• If you plan on drinking, designate a driver who won’t drink
• Be respectful of other motorists and follow the rules of the road
• Find out what disasters may occur in the place where you are traveling, especially if they are disasters you have never experienced before.
• Pay attention to the weather forecast for your destination.
• Don’t let your vehicle’s gas tank get too low
• If you have car trouble, pull off the highway as far as possible
• Let someone know your destination, your route and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route

How to grill safely:

• Never grill indoors – not inside your home, camper, tent or any enclosed area
• Make sure everyone, including the pets, stays away from the grill
•  Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, the deck, tree branches, or anything that could catch fire
• Use long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to keep the chef safe
• Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using grills
• Always supervise a barbecue grill while food is cooking
• For more information, click here!

Enjoy the fireworks, but be careful:

• Never give fireworks to small children, and always follow the instructions on the packaging
• Keep a supply of water close-by as a precaution
• Never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials
• Stay at least 500 feet away from professional fireworks displays
• Leave any area immediately where untrained amateurs are using fireworks

Swimming Safety at Home and the Beach!

• Keep basic lifesaving equipment, first aid kit, cordless phone, emergency contact information, a reaching pole by the pool
• No one should ever swim alone
• Make sure that that anyone who does not know how to swim well has the proper U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices whenever around water 
• Remember, everyone should have flotation devices available to them when aboard a boat  
• Adults swimming with children should practice “reach supervision”
• Stay within reach of the child in case an emergency occurs
• Make sure that someone knows CPR and first aid
• Apply water-proof sunscreen to avoid sun damange
• Be aware of the possibilities of heat related emergencies and how to treat them
• For more information, click here!

The American Red Cross wants everyone to enjoy a safe Fourth of July.  For more safety tips or to register for training, contact your local chapter or visit www.redcross.org.

Article information courtesy of www.redcross.org