Above all, it is important to stay safe around the holidays. Especially during the summer months when parents are more lax and parties can tend to get out of hand, it is imperative that the proper safety precautions are taken and that you always have a plan if something does go terribly wrong. If for some reason you are unfortunately hurt over the 4th of July weekend, call the personal injury attorneys at Dallas W. Harman, P.C. to explain your situation and see if you may have a potential lawsuit against another person or business. 

We have put together several safety tips for you and your family to follow over the next few days. These may all seem like fairly obvious ideas, but many are surprised at how often people are injured because these simple rules are not followed. 

If you must be near fireworks, keep these tips in mind:

• Don't give kids fireworks and closely follow the package's instructions.
• Always have water on hand as a precaution.
• Wear eye protection when handling fireworks.
• Never light more than one firework at a time.
• Don't ever attempt to relight a firework that didn't successfully light the first time.
• When you're grilling on the barbecue, never take your eyes off the grill
• Don't grill indoors. This includes tents, campers, and other enclosed spaces.
• No one except the person operating the grill should be near it.
• Keep your grill away from anything that could potentially catch fire.
• Use safe and effective grill tools that will ensure you don't get burned while grilling.

In addition to the above list, we have also come up with various detailed ideas that you will want to consider for the upcoming holiday weekend and the rest of the summer.

Limit exposure to direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15. Reapply your sunscreen often and remember to drink plenty of water even if you're not thirsty. In addition, it is important that you avoid too many drinks that include alcohol or caffeine.

When it's hot outside, be wary of heat stroke. Signs such as red skin, changes in consciousness, a weak pulse, and fast breathing are all symptoms of heat stroke.

If you're children are going to be playing in a swimming pool, it is important that they have close adult supervision at all times. Even if your pool has a lifeguard, keep a watchful eye on your child so that the lifeguards can effectively do theirs. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental injuries and death among children aged 1 to 4 in the United States. People have reportedly drowned in as little as two inches of water and nine out of ten drownings occur when an adult or supervisor is present but isn't paying attention for one reason or another.

If you're attending a party where children will be present, it's a good idea to take shifts watching the kids. Set-up twenty-minute intervals where a different person will watch the kids each time. It should keep the kids occupied and let for all adults to enjoy themselves and even amount of time.

Keep your phone on you at all times. You never know when you will need to summon help in the case of an emergency. Having to shuffle around to find your phone can mean the difference between life and death when an accident happens.

Finally, if you own a pool and will be hosting a party, be responsible and child-proof the area around the pool. Adequate fencing and pool covers go a long way to keeping everyone at your party safe.

If you have any questions about what you have read or would like to speak to a personal injury attorney for any other matter, please call Dallas W. Hartman, P.C. today at 800-777-4081 for a free consultation.