Safety for the Fourth

The Fourth of July is a time for backyard barbecues and fireworks with family and friends. But unfortunately, summer fun can quickly turn tragic: Every hour, approximately 16 children suffer burn injuries.*

The good news is that many of these injuries are preventable by following some simple tips.

Please read and forward these Fire Safety Tips to anyone caring for kids!

1. The best way to protect your family is to not use any fireworks at home. Instead, attend public displays and leave the fireworks to the professionals.
2. Little arms are too short to hold sparklers, which can heat up to 1,200 degrees. How about this? Let your young children use glow sticks instead. They can be just as fun but they don’t burn at a temperature hot enough to melt glass.
3. Closely supervise children around open flames at all times. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye.
4. When grilling or building campfires, always have a bucket of water and a fire extinguisher nearby. Know how to operate the fire extinguisher properly.
5. If a child is burned, immediately go to a doctor or hospital. If an eye injury occurs, don't allow your child to touch or rub it, as this may cause even more damage.