Have a safe holiday with special tips for travel, water safety, fireworks and outdoor cooking

The American Red Cross would like everyone to enjoy a safe summer holiday, and offers these special tips on travel, water safety, fireworks and outdoor cooking safety to help you and your loved ones have a great weekend.

Travel tips to keep you safe on the highway:
• Carry an Emergency Preparedness Kit in your trunk.
• Buckle up, slow down and do not drive if you have been drinking alcohol. If you plan on drinking, designate a driver.
• Be well rested and alert; give your full attention to the road.
• Clean your vehicle’s lights and windows to help you see well, especially at night.
• Pay attention to the weather forecast for your destination. Travel and weather web sites can help you avoid storms.
• Let someone know your destination, your route and when you expect to arrive.

Firework safety:
There are nearly 9,000 emergency room-treated injuries associated with fireworks a year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission. You can enjoy these Fourth of July staples safely by doing the following:
• Never give fireworks to small children, and 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.
• Never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials.
• Stay at least 500 feet away from professional fireworks displays.
• Leave any area immediately where untrained amateurs are using fireworks.

Safe Grilling:
Nothing says summer quite like the smell of barbecue. Make sure safety is a key ingredient in your Fourth of July by reading the following tips for safer grilling:
• Use gas and charcoal barbecue grills outside only.
• Position grills far from siding, deck railings, overhanging branches and house eaves.
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.
• Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
• Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use.

Water safety at the pool and beach:
• Swim in a supervised, marked area with a lifeguard present, and swim with others. Never swim alone.
• Adults should never leave a child unobserved around water. Practice “reach supervision” by staying within an arm’s length of young children and weak swimmers.
• Take frequent breaks (about once an hour) where everyone gets out of the water, drinks water and reapplies sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher).
• Watch for the “dangerous too’s”… too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
• Post CPR instructions and directions to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number in the pool area.
For more Red Cross Fourth of July safety tips, please visit http://www.redcrossillinois.org/fourth-of-july-safety