America's
232nd birthday
By: JESSICA
SINGLETON
This weekend
will be filled with cookouts, parties, American flags and roadside
firework stands – fourth of July has arrived.
Many people
will celebrate Independence Day with firework shows. Several roadside
stands have opened to sell the explosive party favorites. Everything
from large bottle rockets to small sparklers are available.
Tim Fox
and Danielle Mears work at one of the roadside markets. Fox said
they hold to specific guidelines to make sure their customers
are safe. You must be at least 18 years old to purchase the fireworks
and sign a release form.
One challenge
to selling out of a tent is security. Fox and Mears camp out each
night to make sure the merchandise is still there in the morning.
To celebrate
safely certain guidelines must be followed. Fox said the poor
economy has not affected business as customers stock-up to celebrate
the holiday.
Owen County
Fire Chief Charlie Riddle said fireworks can be very hazardous.
He said the best safety measure is to use common sense. Taking
basic precautions will allow firework displays to be fun, exciting
and safe. He suggests keeping fireworks away from your face and
hands, keep away from kids, have adult supervision, and never
point a firework at another person.
Although
the recent rainfall has reduced the risk of grass fires, Riddle
said it is very important to avoid lighting fireworks around hay,
dry grass, barns and other flammable materials.
Fireworks are not the only health risk to weekend party goers.
Justin
Pittman is the environmental health specialist at the Three Rivers
Health Department. He said cookouts and picnics can be breeding
grounds for bacteria and viruses.
He said
salmonella and e-coli are the biggest concerns. The illness-causing
bacteria can occur in food that was not completely cooked, or
in food that was left in the sun for too long.
To keep
your family safe at your next picnic or cookout, Pittman recommends
washing hands often, clean cooking surfaces, keeping raw food
separate from cooked food, and refrigerating leftovers within
two hours.
For
more information about firework safety see page 2.
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