Blog of the Day: Keep the Fourth Safe

The Fourth July means patriotism, cookouts and fireworks. You can handle patriotism with the best of them, but a few reminders will help keep you safe around the grill and fireworks.

Family cookouts are traditional, but they can also be dangerous. Thousands of people are treated for grill related burns every year. You don’t have to be one of them if you take some simple safety precautions:

• Keep children and pets away. Establish a 3-foot “Kid Free Zone” around your grill.

• Use your grill outdoors only. Keep it away from your home, deck furniture and overhanging branches that might catch fire.

• Remove grease or fat from the grill tray so it does not flame up.

• Never leave the grill unattended.

• Grilling and drinking don’t mix.

Fireworks and the Fourth also go hand-in-hand, but leave them to the experts. If you aren’t careful, sparklers and other fireworks can cause serious injuries. Here are five tips for fireworks safety:

• Sparklers cause most fireworks injuries. They burn at high temperatures and can cause severe burns. Do not let small children handle sparklers and dispose of burned out sparklers in a bucket of water.

• Stay away from ground based “sparkler” devices. If one does not go off as expected, douse the device with water before approaching.

• Distance is important at public fireworks displays. Do not get too close to the launch site in case something goes wrong.

• Do not pick up fireworks debris at these displays.

• Just like drinking and driving, fireworks and alcohol do not mix.