As we gear up for the Fourth of July celebrations, safety should be our top priority. We've gathered six invaluable tips from professionals ranging from publishers to co-owners, to help you keep your family and property safe. From planning ahead and communicating with your family to staying alert and driving carefully, these are the top recommendations to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Plan Ahead and Communicate with Your Family
Planning ahead is so important! Remember to bring sunscreen for protection, life jackets if you're on the water, and a leash for each dog if they come along with you. Communicate to your kids clearly about expectations for safety around crowds and when parking, keep your stuff safe by not leaving valuables out on your seats.
Nate Day, Publisher, Someday I'll Learn
Prioritize Fire Safety Measures
Always keep a fire extinguisher and a hose or a bucket of water nearby as a safety best practice for the 4th of July. Whether you are the one lighting off fireworks, or you are in attendance at an event with them, bringing a fire extinguisher is a good idea in case there are any small fires from sparks or debris.
If the fireworks themselves malfunction, use the bucket of water to douse them, never relight them because they can still go off suddenly.
Max Schwartzapfel, CMO, Schwartzapfel Lawyers
Microchip Pets for Safety
To keep your pet happy, healthy, and safe during the 4th of July, make sure they are microchipped. Dogs and cats may become anxious and run because of the loud noises of fireworks and increased activity. Each year, a large number of pets lose contact with their owners during fireworks displays.
You can improve your chances of finding your pet if you ensure they are microchipped and wear ID tags. A microchip can be scanned at a vet office or animal shelter to help with quick identification and owner reunion.
The best thing to do if you find a lost pet is to take them to the vet so they can be checked for a microchip, especially if they don't have ID tags. You can ensure your pet is secure during the 4th of July celebrations by following these recommendations on pet safety.
Matt Gehring, Chief Marketing Officer, Dutch
Avoid Unattended Grills and Fireworks
Never leave the grill or the fireworks unattended, but always have both, it's the 4th of July. If you are shooting off fireworks, ensure you have a fire extinguisher and a bucket of water handy. Also, don't mix drinking and explosives, even if they are the novelty kind.
Michael Satterfield, CCO, The Gentleman Racer
Keep Pets Indoors
My dog is an outside dog but hates fireworks, like most dogs it really freaks him out. During the 4th of July weekend, I let him stay in the house most of the time. While the fireworks are booming outside, he feels a lot calmer and relaxed just hanging out inside with me.
Bob Bales, Travel Writer, The Traveling Fool
Calm And Distract Your Pets To Reduce Anxiety
The best thing you can do for your pets on the Fourth of July is keep them indoors! You can also try giving them calming chews to help them with any anxiety that loud noises may cause! Try turning on a radio or the TV up louder than normal to help mask the sound! And don’t forget to keep all fireworks out of reach of both dogs and children!
Daniel Garcia, Publisher, Roaming My Planet
Stay Alert and Drive Carefully
Most people think of fireworks when they think of 4th of July accidents. Really, the majority of accidents around the holiday are vehicle-related.
Holidays like the 4th of July often mean more drunk drivers and more drivers in a hurry (and possibly distracted) than at other times of the year. Staying safe from those more accident-prone drivers involves planning and keeping alert while behind the wheel.
The easiest step is to plan driving trips early in the day to avoid most of these inebriated and last-minute drivers. Staying on more major roadways and avenues is another suggestion, as these roads are usually more closely monitored by police.
Finally, driving without distraction and staying alert behind the wheel is the best in-traffic defense against accidents. Pause before entering the intersection when the light turns green to avoid speeding red-light runners. Stay clear of drivers who cannot hold their own lane. And above all, just keep aware of the road and its other drivers.
Aaron Turpen, Co-owner, DriveModeShow
