Independence day is a summertime favorite for parades, family BBQs, kiddie pools and fireworks. It’s a classic way to socialize and spend the day. With all the fun and commotion simple safety measures can be easily overlooked. We’re offering up nine useful and important safety tips and reminders to keep the little ones safe and happy from the early morning parade to the late evening fireworks display.
Summer safety is important all season, but especially on the 4th of July. Here are the best ways to keep kids safe on Independence Day:
Keep extra water on hand.
Dehydration can set in fast with the summer sun and high temperatures that July typically brings. If you heading out for the day or just a few hours, it’s wise to pack a few bottles of water to save kids from exhaustion and tantrums. Fill the water bottles with a few ice cubes to keep water cool and have at least one bottle on hand for each person!
Designate a 4th of July meeting spot.
With the large crowds and commotion that events can bring, a safe meeting place is a great idea. Make sure it’s somewhere convenient and an easy place for small kids to remember. Clearly communicate with your children where to go and what to do if they become separated from you.
Obey event barricades.
Whether you’re at a large event or a local hometown parade, pay attention to barricades. Keep kids behind them and out of the street or unauthorized areas for the safety of everyone!
BBQ and grill safety tips for kids.
Children are inherently curious about food and cooking. If your kids are old enough to help grill food, give them a grill tutorial before the heat is on to avoid injuries. For the smaller kiddos, think about having them draw a ‘safety zone’ around the BBQ with chalk so they know exactly how close them can come.
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Make kids wear proper shoes.
While it may be tempting to let those little piggies wiggle in the freshly cut 4th of July grass, proper shoes are a must. Tennis shoes or athletic shoes are best. Flip flops and sandals won’t provide protection from falling coals or sparks. Coals and sparks may secretly jump out of a hot BBQ waiting to be stepped on. Or even worse, hot sparkler sticks may get tossed into the lawn without notice. This is a really important safety tip for parents and kids!
Kiddie pool safety is super important.
It’s no doubt that kiddie pools provide hours of cooling summer fun, and these portable, fun and convenient bowls of plastic are probably filled to the brim for your 4th of July get together. Even though these common pools are relatively small and shallow, they cause several drowning deaths every year. Have a designated adult ‘pool watcher’ at all times. Take shifts to keep all the little ones safe. Never look away. Drownings only take a minute.
Teach children important safety tips about setting off fireworks and using sparklers.
If you choose to set off fireworks at home, err on the side of caution and keep the kids well away from the blasting area. Make sure to educate them about all the possible dangers and give them useful safety tips. Sparklers fit into this category too! Teach them the dangers of getting the sparks too close to clothing, hair or other people! Firework and sparkler safety really goes without saying, but you can never be too cautious!
Prepare kids for fireworks at dusk.
Boom! Simply put, fireworks are loud! This can be startling to babies and small children. Keep the peace with noise canceling headphones. They are a wise investment for watching fireworks, attending any loud event or using on an airplane.
Don’t forget about the basic summer safety tips.
With all the planning for the day’s events don’t forget the summer basic safety tips like having your kids wear sunglasses, hats and sunscreen! Pack them in a bag the night before if your heading out. Don’t forget that sunscreen eventually wears off. Set a timer or an alarm on your phone to alert you to reapply!
If you happen to be traveling for the holiday, declare your own independence from bulky, inconvenient baby gear. Rent gear, toys and packages to keep travel quick, easy and simple! Check to see what’s available at your next destination.
Do you have any important 4th of July safety tips you would like to add or share? Is there something we missed? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Jennifer leads the marketing efforts at BabyQuip and is constantly trying to reinvent awesomeness through written copy, visual appeal, creative content & SEO. Jennifer is a mom of two boys and knows first hand the struggles of traveling with babies, toddlers and kids. When Jennifer’s head isn’t swimming with new marketing ideas you’ll find her tending to her backyard chickens and practicing meditation.
It’s helpful and informative advice worth sharing!