BBQ, Pool Safety For 4th of July Holiday

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — It's the unofficial midsummer holiday and the 4th of July weekend should be hot and humid in the Hudson Valley. Planning to barbecue? Planning to swim? Take a couple of minutes to check out these safety tips from our local Red Cross folks.

“We want everyone to have a great holiday so we have put together some simple safety tips to follow, said Mary Young, CEO, American Red Cross Metro New York North.

BARBECUE SAFETY

• Keep perishable foods in a cooler with plenty of ice or freezer gel packs.
• Wash your hands before preparing the food.
• Don’t leave food out in the hot sun.
• If you are going to cook on a grill, follow these steps:

1. Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
2. Never grill indoors — not in your house, camper, tent or any enclosed area.
3. Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill.
4. Keep the grill out in the open and away from the house, the deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.
5. Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to help keep the chef safe.

WATER SAFETY

• Be “Water smart.” Children and adults should learn to swim so, at a minimum, they achieve the skills of water competency: be able to enter the water, get a breath, stay afloat, find an exit, swim a distance and then get out of the water safely.
• Prevent unsupervised access to water.
• A person who is drowning has a better chance of survival if these steps are followed:

1. Recognize the signs of someone in trouble and shout for help;
2. Rescue and remove the person from water without putting yourself in danger;
3. Call 9-1-1;
4. Begin rescue breathing and CPR; and
5. Use an AED, if available, and transfer care to advanced life support.

>> Check out and Like the Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook pages.