Tips For A Safe 4th of July

It's still two days before the 4th of July but my entire family is already getting excited about the holiday!  We live in a typical small town that has a 5K Run in the morning followed by a town barbeque, live music and of course fireworks.  Unfortunately two of my children are still small enough that the fireworks scare them but my 10-year old can't wait!  Last year he was at a friend's home and came close to getting burned by a sparkler so I wanted to share some safety tips to help ensure everyone has a fun and safe holiday!

Fireworks safety:

• Don't allow any child under 12 years of age to handle sparklers or fireworks
• Establish a "do not cross" line to keep kids away from the area you are lighting fireworks
• Make sure to keep a fire extinguisher and a bucket of water nearby along with a cordless phone
• Dont' try to relight a "dud" firework.  Wait 20 minutes and then immerse in water

Barbeque safety:

• Keep the area around the barbeque free of any objects that a child can trip over
• Don't leave sharp knives or other utensils hanging from the grill
• Never leave a lit grill unattended
• As soon as you're done, shut the propane tank and replace the cover

Party safety:

• If you're serving drinks such as margaritas or other mixed drinks be sure that you constantly scan the area for half-filled drinks which kids could mistake for punch
• Establish with your partner who is in charge of watching the kids at any time and be sure that person is not drinking
• If your children will be on riding toys, including skateboards and Razr Scooters, bring along the proper safety gear
• If you are visiting a friend's home with a pool be extra vigilant in watching your children