Health Officials Promote Safety During 4th of July Holiday

ST. CLOUD --  Another holiday weekend is on tap and CentraCare Health officials have a few reminders to keep you and your family safe this Fourth of July.

Injury Prevention Specialist MacKensey Stang says fireworks can be dangerous, especially around kids. Stang says the rule of thumb is that sparklers shouldn't be given to small children.  She says children should always be closely monitored around fireworks because they don't always know of the dangers.

Other tips include making sure your fireworks are legal in Minnesota, only light one at a time, never throw them into a campfire and extinguish them with water before throwing them away.

Stang says campfires also cause several injuries every year.  She says the first rule of thumb is to avoid using gasoline or other flammable liquids to start your fire.

Stang says it's a good idea to have a hose or bucket of water nearby in case the fire spreads outside of the fire ring. She also reminds parents to never leave children unattended around fires.