Happy 4th Of July!

Talkin Scents 101
Wishing all of my friends in the USA
A safe & happy 4th of July!

 

These are some tips/advice I came across when we celebrated Canada Day! Our family hosts a large annual Canada Day party, this year being larger than normal as it was combined with my birthday party as well, but generally with more than 100 people are in attendance each year, so we always try and make sure that we follow an easy set of rules to ensure that our gathering goes off without a hitch, and that everyone can have a fun and safe day celebrating!

 

Tips For A Safe Celebration:

 

1. Be a safe swimmer. Water sports and fireworks are two of the biggest pastimes for summer celebrations, and these are both linked to numerous deaths and injuries each year. Never swim alone, and make sure that kids' water play is adequately supervised at all times. Many children or adults drown occur when other people are nearby, so always have a designated chaperone for water play and don't assume that others are watching the kids. Alcohol consumption also increases the risk of accidental drowning. (remember: even in some public areas, lifeguards are not always on duty at all times - check your local beach areas for more details).
2. Fireworks - If fireworks are legal where you live and are planned to be a part of your celebration, be sure to store and use them safely. Keep the kids away from the fireworks at all times, and keep spectators at a safe distance.
3. Use alcohol responsibly. Alcohol and fireworks can be a hazardous and dangerous combination. Also, have a designated driver to bring partygoers home from the festivities. Remember also that alcohol and swimming can be as dangerous as drinking and driving. Where we live, there are DD companies which take you and your vehicle home safely, in which we pre-purchase gift certificates for guests as well as an extra precaution.
4. Boating - Lakes, waterways, and seas will be crowded with boats. Review safe boating practices, and don't drink and drive your boat. Alcohol consumption while operating boats or other motorized water vessels is illegal, and you can be arrested for a BWI (boating under the influence!). Be sure that you have an adequate number of life preservers on hand for extra guests. Become familiar with the boating laws in your area.
5. Cover food and beverages outdoors to discourage bees and wasps from attending your party. If someone is allergic to insect stings, you should have an emergency anaphylaxis kit on hand. Wearing shoes, long sleeves, and long pants outdoors and avoiding fragranced body products, bright colors, and sugary drinks can also help prevent bee stings.
6. Apply sunscreen both before and during an outdoor party. Ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause both premature aging and skin cancer in the long term, and a painful burn the next day. Even those with darker skin should use a sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF).
7. Check prescription medications you are taking to assure you will not have a sun-sensitizing drug reaction to the medication.
8. Bugs & Bites - If you'll be hiking or camping in an area where ticks are abundant, wear long-sleeved, light-colored shirts and long pants tucked into socks or boots to protect yourself from tick-borne diseases. For your skin, you can use a tick repellent.
9. Hydrate well! Spend adequate time indoors or in the shade and drink plenty of fluids to avoid heat illness in extremely hot climates. The risk of heat-related illness is increased when participating in strenuous activity or sports, and those with chronic medical conditions and the elderly are also at an increased risk of heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke. Alcohol consumption can also promote dehydration and increase the risk.
10. Keep children away from campfires and grills. Gas leaks, blocked tubes, and overfilled propane tanks can be a cause of grill fires and explosions.
11. Don't leave the picnic spread out all day. Allowing food to sit in outdoor temperatures can invite food-borne illness. The U.S. FDA suggests never leaving food out for more than one hour when the temperature is above 90 F and not more than two hours at other times. Foods that need to be kept cold should be placed in a cooler with plenty of ice or freezing packs and held at a maximum temperature of 40 F. While mayonnaise and other egg dishes are often associated with food poisoning, any food can potentially become contaminated.