Are you getting excited for the Fourth of July, but want to make sure everyone stays safe and healthy? Here are my best tips for a safe Fourth of July to maximize your fun.
Here in the U.S., everyone looks forward to the Fourth of July. It’s the quintessential summer holiday. And although it’s always such a fun day, the Fourth of July also has some pitfalls that can ruin the day pretty quickly. I mean, we are dealing with explosives and mayo-based salads here, people.
If you want to make sure you end your Fourth of July with memories of it as a fun day rather than a disaster, you need to do some prep work to make sure you and your family will stay safe this Fourth of July. These are all pretty obvious tips for a safe Fourth of July, but sometimes we need to be reminded of the obvious. Come walk through the ways we can ensure a safe Fourth of July with me.
Tips for a Safe Fourth of July
Sun protection
If your Fourth of July looks anything like mine, you’re going to be outside a lot. And because it’s July in the Northern hemisphere, it’s likely going to be warm and sunny (well, hopefully). So, you need a plan for sun protection to ensure you have a safe Fourth of July.
Lucky for you, I have an entire blog post all about sun protection. Remember, I’m not a dermatologist or medical professional of any kind. I’m just a mom with extremely pale skin who spent the first 22 years of life in Florida (a.k.a. the surface of the sun). I learned that sun protection is crucial the hard way. Save yourself and your family those hard lessons and take basic sun precautions. Basically, wear sunscreen, reapply it often, wear a hat and sunglasses, and seek shade. You can do this!
Bug protection
Being outside in the summer means sun, of course, but it also means bugs. It’s just as important to have a bug protection plan as it is to have a sun protection plan to make sure you have a safe Fourth of July, but it doesn’t get talked about as much. Lucky for you, I’m here talking about it.
Bug spray
Now, what should your bug protection plan be on the Fourth of July? In a word, Deet. There are lots of products on the market that claim to be just as effective as Deet-based bug sprays, but that has not been my experience. When I’m faced with the prospect of ticks, mosquitoes, or God forbid the combination of ticks and mosquitoes, it’s got to be Deet for me.
Citronella
I’m also a fan of citronella candles if you’re spending time on a porch, deck, patio, or yard. This is especially the case if you’re mostly concerned about mosquitoes killing your buzz (I couldn’t resist).
Protective clothing
If you’re going to be doing more woods-centered activities on the Fourth of July, I highly recommend wearing long pants and long sleeves to prevent bug bites. Yes, even if it’s hot. Just find a lightweight, breathable material that you love. I’m pretty partial to gauze myself.
Hydration
Hydration is so important to make sure you have a safe Fourth of July. It’s usually hot on the Fourth of July, so it’s easy to get dehydrated quickly. Counter the water you’re losing through your pores by hydrating early and often.
How can you stay hydrated? I’m so glad you asked! Drink water, of course, but I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve to help you and your kids stay hydrated all summer long. If you’re choosing the popsicle route on the Fourth of July, you must go the bomb pop route. This is non-negotiable.
Food safety
Just like most other holidays, food is a huge part of the Fourth of July. Food, especially when cooked and eaten outdoors, can be scary as well as delicious. Want to make sure you have a safe fourth of July? Don’t forget to make sure your food is safe!
Cook food to a proper temperature
If you’re like me, you’re serving hot dogs and hamburgers on the Fourth of July. They are delicious, kid-friendly, and quintessential summer food. But as with any meat you might be serving on the Fourth of July, you want to make sure you cook it to a safe temperature. The USDA has a handy guide that sets out the safe internal temperature for all meats that you can reference if you’re just not sure. If you don’t have an instant-read meat thermometer, now is the time to get one.
Refrigerate perishables
Perhaps the scariest part of eating on the Fourth of July is perishable food that is served outside. Mayo-based salads, I’m looking at you. Keep these items chilled as long as you can before serving and then return any leftovers to the fridge as soon as possible. Don’t let perishable food sit out on a hot day for hours. That’s a recipe for a pretty terrible Fourth of July.
Grill safety
If you’re eating outside, you’re probably also cooking at least part of your meal outside on the Fourth of July. In my world, that means we are firing up the grill. To have a safe Fourth of July, you need to make sure you’re grilling safely, though.
Marinate
If you are marinating meat that you are grilling, do this in the fridge. Don’t leave raw meat on the counter to marinate. Also, don’t reuse your marinade as a sauce for the cooked meat. Marinade should be discarded.
Don’t reuse platters
One pitfall inherent in grilling is that you have to transport food from the kitchen to the grill. That means you have raw meat on platters. Please, for the love of all that is holy, wash that platter before you put the cooked meat on it. And use soap!
Grill brush
Last summer, I learned that traditional metal bristle grill brushes are bad news. The metal bristles can easily detach and lodge in the food you are grilling. This could have disastrous consequences. After we learned this about bristle grill brushes, we switched to a nylon bristle grill brush, which I highly recommend. If you still have a metal bristle grill brush, please inspect the food as it comes off the grill!
Kids
Kids and open flames are a bad combination. Please try to keep your kids away from the grill, especially when it is open. I know they will want to help and they are curious about what you’re cooking, but directly next to the grill is not a safe place for kids.
Fireworks safety
Fireworks are often the main event of the Fourth of July, but you need to keep safety around fireworks front of mind to have a safe Fourth of July. This goes for kids and adults.
Professional Display
My biggest recommendation to stay safe around fireworks on the Fourth of July is to go see a professional fireworks display. Leave the explosives to the professionals. And no, your uncle who took a one-day class on fireworks safety and your college-aged brother are not the professionals I’m talking about.
No kids
If you’re absolutely intent on having some kind of fireworks at your Fourth of July celebration, keep them out of the hands of your small kids. Even sparklers can have catastrophic results when in the hands of your smallest guests. If you want to give your kids the feel of fireworks without the danger, consider handing out glow sticks. Head to the Dollar Tree and pick up a few packs. Crack them and let the kids go to town!
Alcohol
If you want to have a safe Fourth of July or a safe any day of the year, you need to keep alcohol safety front of mind.
Don’t drink and drive
First things first, don’t drink and drive. I mean, it’s illegal for a reason. This is especially true on nights like the Fourth of July when kids are in the streets.
Don’t handle fireworks
If you are an at-home fireworks person, please don’t mix alcohol and fireworks. There is no positive outcome from this mix. Your local emergency room thanks you for cooperating with this tip.
Hydrate
I don’t want to give off the impression that I’m being preachy about abstaining from alcohol. I fully expect to drink a beer or two on the Fourth of July. If you are choosing to have an adult beverage or two on the Fourth of July, make sure you’re also hydrating with water. Yes, beer can be refreshing going in, but it’s dehydrating, so you need to make sure you’re drinking more water than alcohol.
Pet safety
If you have pets, you know that the Fourth of July can be the worst day of the year for them. To make sure your pets have a safe Fourth of July, keep them inside or on a leash. Pets can bolt when they’re scared, and we all know that most dogs think fireworks are their mortal enemies. It’s not worth potentially losing your best friend, so just keep them safe and secure on the Fourth of July.
Weather
Although we all hope that the Fourth of July is warm and sunny, it can also be stormy. I grew up in Florida, so we almost always had a banger of a thunderstorm in the afternoon on the Fourth of July that sent everyone running for cover. We can’t control the weather, of course, so just be prepared. Keep an eye on the sky (and on the radar) so you know if severe weather is possible. Have a contingency plan for outdoor activities. These are easy things that you can do to make sure you have a safe Fourth of July.
Other posts
Looking for other Fourth of July content? You might want to check out these posts that can come in handy for Independence Day:
I hope you all have a happy and safe Fourth of July! What are your plans for Independence Day? Let us know down below or over on Instagram @sarainseason.