Red Cross offers ways to stay safe as you celebrate the Fourth of July

CHARLOTTE — The Fourth of July is just ahead, a time when people typically enjoy the summer holiday with backyard barbecues, fireworks or water fun. But this year, celebrating Independence Day will be different due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The American Red Cross offers safety tips you can follow.

“If your community is reopening, it’s important to know which safety measures to take as you venture out in public,” reported Allison Taylor, regional CEO, Greater Carolinas. “Follow these coronavirus precautions.”

• Continue to social distance by staying 6 feet away from others, especially if you are at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19 (over age 65 or any age with underlying medical conditions).
• Continue to wear cloth face coverings in public. Face coverings are most essential when social distancing is difficult. Follow guidelines for your area when it comes to how large gatherings can be. Avoid crowds and mass gatherings.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
• Stay home if you are sick.

FIREWORKS SAFETY

Many public fireworks shows are canceled this summer to avoid holding events where large crowds will gather. If you plan to use your own fireworks, check first if it is legal in your area.

• Never give fireworks to small children, and never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials. 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.

GRILLING SAFETY

Grilling fires spark more than 10,000 home fires on average each year in the U.S. To avoid this:

• Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
• Never grill indoors — not in the house, camper, tent or any enclosed area.
• Make sure everyone, stays away from the grill, including children and pets.
• Keep the grill away from the house or anything that could catch fire. 
• Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill.

WATER SAFETY

Warmer weather means enjoying the water. Be “water smart,” have swimming skills and know how to help others. This includes home pools — where young children are most at risk of drowning — and open water, such as ponds, rivers and lakes — where people are more likely to drown than any other location. With less access to lifeguarded aquatic facilities this summer, some may consider open water environments that are not designated for swimming.

• Talk to your children, including older youth and teenagers, about water safety. A variety of resources are available at redcross.org/watersafety and redcross.org/watersafetyforkids.
• If you choose to take your family to the water, make sure the area is designated for swimming and has lifeguards on duty. Once there, maintain social distancing, both in and out of the water, between you and people who don’t live with you.
• Wear face coverings on land, especially when physical distancing is difficult. Do not wear them in the water as it may be difficult to breathe. Don’t share goggles, nose clips, snorkels or other personal items.
• Designate a water watcher whose sole responsibility is to supervise people during any in-water activity until the next person takes over.
• Kiddie or inflatable pools can be a great way to have fun. Drain the water from the pool and flip it over after swim time is over.

BEACH SAFETY

Learn how to swim in the surf. You should also swim only at a lifeguard-protected beach, within the designated swimming area. Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards.

• Keep alert and check the local weather conditions.
• Swim sober and never swim alone.
• Make sure you have enough energy to swim back to shore.
• Inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets as an extra layer of protection. No one should use an inflatable or other floatation device that is not Coast Guard approved unless they are able to swim.
• Don’t dive headfirst—protect your neck. Check for water depth and obstructions before diving and go in feet first the first time.
• Pay close attention to children and elderly persons when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause a loss of footing.
• Keep a lookout for aquatic life. Water plants and animals may be dangerous.
• Before you leave for the beach, check the official National Weather Service surf zone forecasts and/or beach advisories and closings link. You also can ask your hotel or rental agency for local sources of weather and beach forecasts.
• Know what the warning flags mean in your location. Read the beach safety signs at the entrance to the beach. Once on the beach, look for beach warning flags, often posted on or near a lifeguard’s stand. Please read and obey the posted beach signs and warning flags. Warning flags aren’t used in all areas and their meaning can vary from area to area. Check this link from U.S. Lifesaving Association for information on the beach you are visiting.

Rip currents are responsible for deaths on our nation’s beaches every year and for most of the rescues performed by beach lifeguards. For your safety, be aware of the danger of rip currents.

If you are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Once you are free, turn and swim toward shore. If you can’t swim to the shore, float or tread water until you are free of the rip current and then head toward shore.

Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist near these structures.

DOWNLOAD RED CROSS APPS

The Red Cross offers a series of free mobile apps to put lifesaving safety information in the palm of your hand. Download these apps by searching for “American Red Cross” in your app store or at redcross.org/apps.

• The Red Cross Swim App has water safety tips and resources for parents and caregivers along with child-friendly games, videos and quizzes.
• The Red Cross Emergency App can help keep you and your loved ones safe by putting vital information in your hand for more than 35 different severe weather and emergency alerts.
• The Red Cross First Aid App puts instant access to information on handling the most common first aid emergencies at your fingertips.