The Fourth of July is widely known for barbecues and fireworks. Family and friends gather and lots of fun is had. It’s also the holiday with one of the largest numbers of accidents. Whether those are burn or alcohol-related injuries, a million things could go wrong.
The best of Omaha and Dubuque recommend all of these tips to keep your home safe on the 4th of July:
Don’t light fireworks inside your house.
Not even a great home air filtration system can fix the toxic air and fire started in your home from fireworks!t. Don’t do it.
Make sure you know which fireworks are legal in your area - and when and where you can light them!
Different cities, suburbs, and housing developments can have different guidelines. Do your research to know what fireworks are allowed in addition to the days and times you can light them off.
Make sure your yard isn’t too dry.
While many homes in Nebraska and Iowa have gotten plenty of rain this summer, notice any dry spots in your yard. To ensure a smaller chance of fires, saturate your grass a few hours before the festivities.
If you’re grilling, keep it outside!
Even in the event of inclement weather, don’t be tempted to drag your grill inside. Not even into your garage! Doing so increases the likelihood of a fire and toxic gases in your home. If the weather is too bad to stay outside, pull the food off the heat and get back to it later!
If you have grease or oil left over from any of your food preparation…
...DON’T put it down the drain. For more on this, see our blog post here.
Lastly, no “home safety” article would be complete without quick tips for your pets and 4th of July festivities…
If you have pets at home, make sure:
- To keep them inside a quieter room in your home during the fireworks, if at all possible.
- If they have to go outside, stay with them. Preferably have them on a leash.
- They have the normal amount of food and water available to them.
- They have collar IDs, in case they do get out of your home or yard.
Our most important tip, though: Be safe!
No matter what you’re doing, whether it’s barbecuing, fireworks, hanging out at the lake with friends, or even home improvements this week, make sure you’re being safe and smart. Keep your wits about you and you’ll have all your fingers for next year’s festivities!
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