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Happy 4th of July everyone! What better way to celebrate our country than firing up the grill, splashing around in the pool and of course lighting off some fireworks? And, okay maybe the title of this blog is a little dramatic, but there’s nothing to end a happy day faster than a trip to the emergency room on a national holiday. We’re bringing you some tips on how to have a fun and stay safe on the 4th this year!
When the sun is out, why not cook outside? Grilling is a great way to get people together to enjoy some delicious food. There are a few things to keep in mind while using this big, hot piece of metal to grill, though. It’s especially good to remember these things when there are so many distractions around.
While grilling and eating outdoors, it’s especially important to make sure the food is the right temperature to prevent bacteria and sickness. Nobody wants food poisoning at a social gathering! Most meat should be cooked to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Refrigerated items like potato salad should be kept below 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures between 41 and 135 degrees Fahrenheit are considered to be in the “danger zone” for bacteria and shouldn’t be eaten.
It seems like swimming is always a part of 4th of July. It’s usually a hot day and swimming is a chance to cool off (especially if you were the one doing all that grilling) and splash around with the kids. Whether you’re headed to the pool to float around or to the ocean to catch some waves, we have some tips to keep in mind to keep everyone safe.
Swimming in the pool is safer in some ways than swimming in open water. Swimmers are in a contained space where others can (and should) keep an eye on them, and you don’t have to worry about the natural elements taking over like waves and varying depths. Somethings to keep in mind while swimming in the pool:
We have a great article, “Backyard Pool Safety”, that goes more in depth and explains your options for protecting others, especially kids, when you have a pool in your backyard.
All of the above precautions also apply to swimming at the beach. You want to make sure someone keeps an eye on the swimmer, and those who chose to drink don’t swim. Diving is also an issue in the ocean because of the typical gradual decline into deeper waters. If you’re jumping from a higher surface like a rock, you want to be absolutely sure the water is deep enough before you jump.
Another element of ocean swimming is rip currents, which can be very dangerous. If someone is stuck in a rip current, he or she should swim parallel to the beach until they escape. He or she should then swim back to shore, or back-float if they are too tired. Rip currents usually occur in lower places, so try to stay away from piers and jetties while swimming in the ocean.
The Coast Guard explains to swim parallel to the shore to escape a rip current
Our previous blog article, “Tanning: The Good, The Bad and The Dangerous”, goes in depth about protecting yourself from the sun and the dangers of indoor tanning, but here we’ll share some tips the FDAgives for skin protection from the sun:
Symptoms of heat stroke include high body temperature, nausea and vomiting, high heart rate, confusion, irritability and delirium. The victim may not be sweating if the heat stroke is due to hot weather.
4th of July is the biggest firework day of the year! Americans use around 285 million pounds of fireworks each year on Independence Day alone. There’s nothing like watching a big firework show with friends and family after a day of celebrating, or lighting them off on your own in the streets. With that being said, though, nearly 70% of firework related injuries happen within a month of this holiday. Like all the other topics we’ve covered in this blog post, there are just a few precautions to take to make sure you have an enjoyable experience.
It’s recommended to stay at least 500 ft away from where the fireworks are being lit.
