Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July
07/02/2025
Here are some tips to remain safe this year:
Plan for a designated driver if you’re going to consume alcohol.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 40% of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes over the Fourth of July weekend involved drunk drivers.
Use caution with fireworks.
Fireworks routinely cause significant injuries to kids and adults. An estimated 10,000 fireworks related injuries occur in the United States each year, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fireworks were responsible for an estimated 31,302 fires in 2022. These fires caused an estimated 6 civilian deaths, 44 civilian injuries and $109M in direct property damage.
Enact safe practices when grilling and cooking.
According to the NFPA, July is the peak month for grill fires. Check out these safe grilling tips (new link) to ensure a stress free day of outdoor cooking.
Practice safe boating and swimming.
Fourth of July weekend combined with Memorial and Labor Day weekends account for nearly 1/3 of all boating and related accidents and fatalities. Follow these tips (new link) to remain safe on the water this weekend. According to the USA Swimming Foundation, an average of 17 children drown in pools or spas during Fourth of July weekend. Check out these tips to make sure your kids stay safe.
Beat the heat!
As the warmer weather begins to arrive in the Pacific Northwest, it is increasingly important to recognize the signs of heat-related illnesses and understand how to stay cool. Check out this tip (new link) sheet from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to learn more.
Here are some tips to remain safe this year:
1. Plan for a designated driver if you’re going to consume alcohol.
According to the National High Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 38% of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes over the Fourth of July weekend involved drunk drivers.
2. Use caution with fireworks.
Fireworks routinely cause significant injuries to kids and adults. An estimated 10,000 fireworks related injuries occur in the United States each year, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). According to the National Fire Protection Association, an estimated 19,500 fires were started by fireworks in 2018 alone, resulting in five civilian deaths, 46 injuries and $105 million in property damage.
3. Enact safe practices when grilling and cooking.
According to the NFPA, July is the peak month for grill fires. Check out these safe grilling tips to ensure a stress free day of outdoor cooking.
4. Practice safe boating and swimming.
Fourth of July weekend combined with Memorial and Labor Day weekends account for nearly 1/3 of all boating and related accidents and fatalities. Follow these tips to remain safe on the water this weekend. According to the USA Swimming Foundation, an average of 17 children drown in pools or spas during Fourth of July weekend. Check out these tips to make sure your kids stay safe.
5. Beat the heat!
With the current record-setting heat wave in the Pacific Northwest, it’s more important than ever to know the signs of heat related illnesses. Check out this tip sheet from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to learn more.
As always, Perlo strives to create a safe work environment for our people, but we care about them when they’re away from our sites, too. If we all use caution, we can celebrate safely this weekend. With safety in mind, have a wonderful holiday weekend celebrating our nation’s independence!