Red Cross Offers Tips for a Safe 4th of July

At the beach or in the backyard, follow these steps to enjoy the holiday, and keep your smartphone handy with a downloadable Red Cross first aid app.

Courtesy: spryliving.com

(PORTLAND, OR) - The Independence Day Holiday is just around the corner and many people will visit the beach, enjoy fireworks or fire up the grill for a backyard barbecue. The American Red Cross offers some simple safety tips and suggests smartphone users download a free first-aid app. The app is the first in a series to be created by the American Red Cross, the nation’s leader in first aid and emergency preparedness information. It gives instant access to information on how to handle the most common first aid situations, and includes videos and interactive quizzes.

“The American Red Cross wants everyone to have a happy -- and safe -- Fourth of July holiday, and taking a few simple steps to stay safe can help ensure that this will be an enjoyable holiday for all,” said Dave Brooke, Oregon Territory Service Delivery Manager for Red Cross Health and Safety Services.

Brooke and his team of safety instructors offer these simple safety tips:

WATER SAFETY -

• Be sure to check the weather and water conditions beforehand and throughout the day. Avoid alcohol before and during any water activities.
• Wear a life jacket; many water fatalities occur from drowning.
• Be cautious around natural bodies of water including ocean beaches, rivers and lakes. Cold temperatures, currents and underwater hazards can make these bodies of water dangerous.
• Actively supervise children at all times. Stay within arm’s reach of young children when they are in the water.

WATCH THE SUN -

• Limit the amount of direct sunlight received between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15 throughout the day.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine.
• Wear sunglasses that will absorb UV sunlight to protect eyes.

FIREWORKS SAFETY –

• There are multiple local venues to view fireworks but if you use them at home, follow these steps:
• Never give fireworks to small children and always follow the instructions on the packaging.
• Keep a supply of water close by as a precaution.
• Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection.
• Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight "a dud."
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
• Never throw or point fireworks toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials.

GRILLING SAFETY

If a picnic and gastronomic goodies are in the holiday plans:

• Never leave a barbecue grill unattended.
• Do not grill inside a house, camper, tent or any enclosed area.
• Keep the grill away from the house, the deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.
• Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill.
• Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.

The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.