Happy Independence Day

7/1/2020 (Permalink)

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day! The fourth of July is one of my all-time favorite holidays! It’s filled with family & friends, swimming, food, and fireworks. Who doesn’t love a great outdoor party? As a kid, my family and I lived in a very tight-knit friendly neighborhood. We had a great big backyard with a pool so the whole block would gather at our house with their family bringing covered dishes, desserts, and drinks. I often wonder how we survived as kids because looking back the adults were enjoying themselves giving little care to what us kids were up to… Which was mostly trying to outdo each other with trick jumps into the pool or seeing who could hold onto a lit sparkler the longest. Even with our freedom and some poor choices, I don’t remember any major injuries, thank goodness. I am extremely thankful for so many great memories with friends and family and equally thankful for making it out of the 80s unscathed. We are a little more aware, it seems, with our own children's safety. I read that the 4th of July is actually one of the most dangerous holidays and reports the most injuries of any holiday. It turns out there are even more injuries related to fireworks than trying to deep fry a turkey, who would have thought?  Now that we are a little older and hopefully a whole lot wiser with access to much more information than our parents had, let’s try to limit the injury while keeping the fun! 

Here are some safety tips for you and your family to adhere to while staying safe and enjoying the celebration.

• Always read and follow label directions
• Always have an experienced adult present
• Only buy from reliable and reputable fireworks sellers
• Only ignite fireworks outdoors and away from any structures
• Be sure to have plenty of water handy, I find a hose is great but also have a few buckets full of water handy too. 
• Please do not attempt to make your own fireworks
• Light one firework at a time
• Never attempt to reignite a firework that has fizzled out or malfunctioned
• Please keep all children clear of fireworks
• Fireworks are best stored in a cool dry location
• Dispose of fireworks properly, it’s best to read the label or abide by the manufacturers' directions
• Never throw fireworks at another person or try to handle a lit firework
• It’s best to shoot fireworks from a flat sturdy surface, never shoot them from metal or glass containers

We wish you a safe and happy celebration! HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!

As always, if disaster strikes, SERVPRO of Springfield, Sangamon, Morgan, Cass, and Montgomery counties is always here for you. We can be reached 24/7 at 217-528-7775.