While backyard barbeques and fireworks are beloved traditions for celebrating the Fourth of July, they come with serious safety risks, causing thousands of injuries and home fires each year.
According to the National Fire Protection Agency, fireworks cause over 30,000 fires annually costing $109 million in property damage and injuring over 10,000. Thousands also seek help in U.S. hospital emergency rooms each year from grilling-related injuries, that ignite 5700 fires and cost $37 million in property damage.
Enjoy the holiday without injuries or mishaps by taking a few safety precautions.
FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS:
Avoid illegal or improper use! Many injuries occur due to misuse, illegal fireworks or even malfunctioning devices.
Keep fireworks away from children! Sparklers burn at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit and account for 29% of firework injuries for children under the age of five.
Light fireworks one at a time! Once fireworks are lit, move back to a safe distance, and never try to re-light fireworks that haven’t fully ignited.
Keep water nearby! Have a bucket of water or garden hose handy in case of a fire or mishap.
Leave fireworks to the professionals!
While we enjoy the bright lights and loud booms from firework displays, most of our furry friends don’t. More pets are lost from July 4th – July 6th in the U.S. than any other time of the year. To avoid frightened or missing pets, you should keep them secured inside your home with comforting music or a tv playing to mask loud noises, provide toys and treats to keep them busy, and create a comfortable space for them to hide.
AVOIDING GRILLING AND BARBECUE DANGERS:
- Regularly clean grills to remove grease buildups!
- Keep grills a safe distance away! Grilling home fires often occur because grills are placed too close to flammable materials and homes. Keep grills a minimum of 10 feet away from deck railings, over hanging branches and your home.
- Look for propane grill leaks! If your propane grill is leaking, turn off both the grill and the gas tank, and have professionally serviced.
- Watch kids and pets! Keep children and pets away from hot grills to avoid injuries.
- Keep grill lids nearby! Make certain your grill lid is readily available to contain any fire and help cook food evenly.
- Dispose of coals properly! If using charcoal grills, let coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.
Since grill flare-ups can result in serious injuries and burns, never leave grills unattended while cooking or use improperly.
DON’T DIY ITEMS AFFECTED BY FIRE OR SMOKE DAMAGE
If you experience fire or smoke damage at your home this July 4th, don’t attempt to provide fire mitigation services yourself. Using over-the-counter products and improper cleaning methods will cause the soot damage to permanently “set” on a variety of surfaces, materials and belongings. This will make the cleanup efforts more costly and cause certain items to become unsalvageable.
ServiceMaster By Mason is available 24/7/365, including holidays, to assist you when fire or smoke damage occurs at your home or business. Learn more about our fire & smoke cleanup and restoration services and how we can assist with issues big and small.
*source: National Fire Protection Association
