It’s Safety Tip Tuesday on 97.9 The Hill, presented by Safe Kids of Orange & Chatham counties, along with Pam Herndon State Farm. Every Tuesday on 97.9 The Hill we hear from local family safety organizations as they share different safety tips and helpful reminders to keep us safe.
Brighton McConnell was joined this afternoon by Elizabeth Farnan and Jeryl Anderson, who are the Assistant Fire Marshal and ES Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator, respectively, for Orange County Emergency Services, to discuss firework safety as we head into the 4th of July weekend.
The first thing you want to be sure of when purchasing fireworks is that they’re legal in your state. As Elizabeth explained, “Unfortunately a lot of the places that sell fireworks in North Carolina, sell illegal fireworks.” Luckily, she also provided an easy way to know if you’re purchasing fireworks that are legal; anything that doesn’t leave the ground. Farnan further clarified “if you put it on the ground, it doesn’t go in the air, it doesn’t spin up and leave the ground at all, then it is legal.”
A fun way to light up your Fourth of July celebration is with sparklers. They pop up during the summer, at weddings, and more. But are they actually a safe alternative? Jeryl shared with Brighton “Sparklers are the second highest cause of firework injuries that require hospitalization. Most of these injuries occur among preschool age children.” The reason they cause frequent injuries, is that they reach temperatures of over 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. (No, that isn’t a typo.) Pay special attention when handling a sparkler, and fully extinguish them once they burn out.
Sparklers can be fun and festive, as long as they’re enjoyed safely.
Brighton, Elizabeth and Jeryl covered a lot of important reminders in their conversation. Listen to the whole chat below, and tune into 97.9 The Hill every week to hear more important reminders on Safety Tip Tuesday!
From all of us at 97.9 The Hill & Chapelboro.com, Safe Kids, and Pam Herndon State Farm, we wish you a fun and safe July 4th weekend!
Safe Kids of Orange County and Safe Kids of Chatham County are both led by UNC Health Care Trauma Program, which provides dedicated and caring staff, operation support and other resources to assist in achieving our common goal: keeping your kids safe. Based on the needs of the community, this coalition implements evidence-based programs, such as car-seat checkups, safety workshops and sports clinics, that help parents and caregivers prevent childhood injuries.
Buckle up with State Farm, and get auto insurance in Chapel Hill, NC that fits your needs. If you need more than an auto policy for the family, we provide car insurance coverage for new drivers, business travelers, collectors, and more. Not to mention, State Farm is the largest auto insurance provider in the U.S.
Pam Herndon has been serving this community since 1991, and is committed to keeping local families safe!
