4th of July Safety Checklist
Fourth of July is coming up fast and whatever your family is doing to celebrate the holiday we want to give you tips for keeping your kiddos safe and having fun!
Cooking Considerations
Grilling - One of our favorite ways to celebrate 4th of July but there are definitely some safety hazards. Especially if you are having a big group, make sure to create a child and pet free zone while you grill. Try to find a quiet side of the deck or yard to get the cooking done. Children should know that only adults can use the grill but even so, make sure to never leave it unattended. Finally, remember that even when you are done cooking the grill is still 400-600 degrees under the hood so make sure to keep it away from the party.
Cold Foods - Everyone is celebrating outside chowing down on potato salad, coleslaw, deviled eggs and all our favorite barbeque items but a few hours later perishable foods are still sitting out in the hot sun risking food poisoning and ruining leftovers. Make sure to put perishable foods back in the fridge or cooler so that leftovers don’t have to be thrown out and nobody gets sick!
Drinks - Kids are curious and leaving cups, cans, and bottles around can be dangerous. Little kids especially don’t know that a cup is a mixed drink and not safe for them; keep adult beverages safely in hand or in the trash.
Water Ways
Maybe you are spending your Independence Day Celebration at the Beach, or the pool so here are a couple tips on Water Safety for the holiday.
If you have your own pool and kiddos are coming over it is important to designate specific people as “honorary lifeguards” or even hire a lifeguard for a couple of hours. We can get distracted especially with friends, food and drinks around; so making sure to have people on watch is important for water safety. Looking for other tips on water safety? Check out our Water Safety blog post.
Don’t forget normal summer routines just because it is a holiday! Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going out in the sun and reapply every two hours and/or after swimming.
Parade Pointers
Heading out on the town for 4th of July? Our hometown has a 4th of July parade every year and we love it. Before going out, chat with your kids about staying close and with older kids designate a safe meeting place if you get separated. For younger kids make sure they know the protocols for who to approach if they get lost, and also consider dressing them in different colored/bright clothes so as to easily spot your kids in the midst of all the red, white, and blue.
Firework Facts
Finally we come to fireworks; this is one of the most important safety considerations on the 4th of July.
First and foremost never let your kids play with fireworks; firecrackers, rockets, and sparklers. These are just too dangerous. For fun safer alternatives let your kiddos wave flags or glow sticks around!
If you are setting off your own fireworks always wear eye protection and make sure to have two forms of water close by i.e. a bucket full of water and a hose. Only light one firework at a time and never attempt to re-light a dud. Make sure to set off fireworks away from houses, trees, brush and flammable items. Before throwing away used fireworks, soak them in water and then throw them away in an outside trash can.
Professional fireworks are more spectacular and safer than setting off your own fireworks. When going to see a show consider having your littles wear ear protection and stay at a safe distance at least 500 feet away. Don’t let your children pick up any pieces of fireworks after an event as they could still be hot and/or could still explode.
Whatever your 4th of July plans we hope these tips help you have a fun and safe celebration! Do you have any other safety tips for the 4th of July? Dm us on Instagram, we’d love to hear them!
As always, thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more blog posts and don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly family newsletter here, follow us on Instagram, or like us on Facebook for more content!