Health Department w/Safety Tips for Independence Day

As we celebrate Independence Day, many of us plan to attend fireworks displays and parties with friends and family. Here are some tips so you can enjoy a fun-packed, safe holiday.

FIREWORKS SAFETY

The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public firework show put on by professionals. Stay at least 500 feet away from the show. Leave any area immediately where untrained amateurs are using fireworks. If you are setting fireworks off at home, follow these safety steps:

• Never give fireworks to small children, and never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials. Always follow the instructions on the packaging.

• Keep a supply of water close by as a precaution.

• Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection.

• Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight "a dud."

• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.

WATER AND SWIMMING SAFETY

Whether at the beach, on the lake or in a swimming pool, keep the following safety precautions at top of mind:

• Supervise young children around water

• Always use life jackets and secure personal flotation devices

• Avoid alcohol while supervising children and before or during swimming, boating, or waterskiing

• Shower before entering a swimming pool and do not swim when ill with diarrhea

• Be aware of the local weather conditions and forecast, especially watch for thunderstorms with lightning

• Pay attention to lifeguards and posted instructions

SUN AND HEAT

When the temperature is elevated, guard against sunburn and heat illness:

• Never leave anyone, including pets, alone in a closed, parked vehicle

• Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes before going outside

• Increase fluid intake - drink more liquid than thirst indicates; avoid alcohol and caffeine

• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loosing-fitting clothing

• Be aware of heat exhaustion symptoms: heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, clammy skin, pale or flushed complexion, and fast and shallow breathing

o If present, be sure to move the person to a cooler place; remove or loosen tight clothing; apply cool, wet cloths; and give cool water to slowly drink

• Be aware of heat stroke symptoms - hot, dry skin, hallucinations, chills, throbbing headache, high body temperature, confusion/dizziness and slurred speech

o If present, be sure to call 911; quickly cool the person in a cool bath or wrap wet sheets around them; if the victim refuses water, is vomiting or shows a decreased level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink

TICKS AND MOSQUITOES

Whether camping, hiking or in the backyard, guard against insect-borne illnesses. Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus and ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis and other serious infections.

• WEAR INSECT REPELLENT. Apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535, according to label instructions

• Avoid being outside during prime mosquito-biting hours, dusk to dawn

• Avoid tick-infested areas, such as the woods and high grasses

• Check people and pets for ticks every 2 to 3 hours • Remove ticks attached to the body promptly to help prevent diseases. Use tweezers to remove the tick and call a health care provider if a rash, fever or body aches develop during the 1 to 3 weeks following a bite.

• Check with a veterinarian about preventing tickborne diseases in pets as they can carry ticks into the home

DRIVE SAFETY

Around the holiday, sadly, we often see an increase in impaired driving crashes. From 2017 to 2021, there were 1,460 drivers killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the Fourth of July holiday period across the nation — 38% of the drivers killed were drunk.

• If you plan to drink, make a plan ahead of time for a sober ride home.

• Even if you’ve had only one drink, let someone who hasn’t been drinking take you home. A sober driver is one who does not drink at all, not the one who’s had the least to drink.

• If you’re hosting a Fourth of July gathering, help the designated drivers out by making sure there are plenty of non-alcoholic beverages.

• Have a friend who is about to drive impaired? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.

• If you see an impaired driver on the road, safely pull over and call 911.

• Always wear your seat belt. Drunk driving isn’t the only risky behavior causing crashes on our roads; drug-impaired driving is an issue too. Whether the drug is obtained legally or illegally, drug-impaired driving is dangerous and illegal.