It’s that time of year again, summer time. With the summer comes vacations, summer camps, and of course, the celebration of our nation’s independence. The Fourth of July can be exciting, but like all parties, they can be a danger zone of over eating and bad decisions. This is before you even add the fireworks to the mix. The good news is there are ways to ensure the fun doesn’t stop. With that in mind, below are my top three tips for having a safe and healthy Fourth of July party.
- Hydrate and wear sunscreen. Most parties will be outdoors and if this is the case for your Independence Day festivities be sure to have everyone wear sunscreen to avoid a burn. It’s also critical to keep plenty of water on hand to avoid heatstroke and other overheating issues. In the event anyone does get a sunburn, however, check out Prevention.com’s guide to treating it.
- Refrain from overindulging on the food and drinks. It’s easy to eat far too much and drink one too many adult beverages at an event. So, be sure to keep it in check. Remember, it’s always better to use moderation than to end up sick or injured. If you’re hosting the event, it’s a good idea to have a wide variety of healthy options to go along with any sweets and unhealthy foods. Not hosting? Perhaps you can at least bring a healthy side dish.
- Leave the fireworks to the professionals. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, “230 people on average go the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday.” Because of this it’s important to keep the fireworks in the hands of people who know what they are doing. If you insist on lighting them yourself, use caution and read the instructions carefully. And, don’t let anyone who’s consumed alcohol set them off as this could result in injury to themselves or others.
Although this list is far from exhaustive, I hope it’s at least given you some ideas for how you can make your Independence Day parties a little safer. From all of us here at Hammond Psychology & Associates, P.A., may you and your families and friend have a Happy and healthy Fourth of July!