Each year in the U.S., about 7 people die from injuries related to fireworks, and almost 10,000 get treated in emergency rooms. “Of those treated, 42% suffer burns, 19% suffer eye injuries and 22% suffer injuries to their head, face and ears. “If you do choose to use fireworks, always read and follow warning labels, wear safety glasses, never light with people nearby, avoid looking down canisters, never let children play with fireworks and never point at other people,’’ says UCHealth’s Dr. Nathan Hamburger. “If you are injured, immediately seek help from the emergency department.” Better still, enjoy a professional display from a safe distance. #FireworksSafety
Tag: holiday
Don’t Create Litter with Fireworks Debris
If you’re planning on having an amateur #fireworks display to celebrate the #Fourth of July, remember that the cardboard, plastic and other debris they leave after igniting is #trash. Left unswept, that #litter can make itself into the ecosystem and become an eyesore, a health hazard and a danger to marine life. “Leftover trash from fireworks can pose major risks to marine animals when it enters the ocean,” the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says. “If you launch it, pick it up” — or join a post-Fourth of July cleanup to keep litter in check. #FireworksSafety
Examine the Alternatives to Fireworks
#Fireworks displays can go from dazzling to dangerous when they hit dry kindling, says Inside Climate News. Fireworks start thousands of accidental fires nationwide every year, including an estimated 18,500 on the #Fourth of July mostly from fireworks mishaps or campfires. With climate change making many locations hotter and drier, fireworks use is getting more risky. Many fire departments — especially in the hot, dry Western states — are trying to phase out fireworks and replace them with synchronized drone displays and other entertainments. Consider the alternatives when celebrating! #FireworksSafety
Even Legal Fireworks Can Be Dangerous
#Fireworks laws vary by state, but any form of firework can be dangerous if used carelessly. Sparklers account for the largest percentage (14%) of fireworks injuries annually — more than mortar-style shells and firecrackers. To keep your Fourth of July festivities safe, never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, says the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Light fireworks one at a time and step back to a safe distance quickly. Never attempt to relight or pick up a firework that fails to ignite. And keep a bucket of water or garden hose handy in case of fire or mishaps. #FireworksSafety
Observing Boxing Day Traditions
The Organizing Blog’s favorite holiday is nearly here, and it isn’t Christmas, Hannukah, Diwali or Kwanzaa. It’s the day practically everyone pays attention to how much stuff they have and where they’re going to put it — Boxing Day!
Observed on the day after Christmas, Boxing Day got its start as an occasion for wealthy English landowners in to present servants and tradespeople with #holiday #gifts. The box — filled with seasonal delicacies and trinkets — was a gratuity recognizing their contributions over the year.
Boxing Day continues to be a holiday in many parts of the former British Commonwealth such as New Zealand, where anyone working gets time-and-a-half. And retailers in the United States use the occasion as an excuse to mark down merchandise and shore up holiday sales figures.
We regard Boxing Day as having a meaning that’s arguably closer to the original and more literal: a day to box up your holiday decorations and extra merchandise and give it to a worthy service provider or charity.
You can observe Boxing Day on Dec. 26th or any day of your choosing. Have some empty boxes ready to collect extra decorations and household goods, clothing that didn’t quite fit this season, books that have been read — whatever you no longer need.
Sort those things out as you bring a close to the holidays. As you see the boxes fill up, set them aside in a special location. As the boxes start to pile up — and this will happen faster than you might imagine — #schedule a #free #donation #pickup at ClothingDonations.org.
Put anything you will continue to use back into their proper, designated places in closets, drawers and bins. And know that you will be getting rid of some of the #clutter that has built up and be able to start the new year more #organized.
Your #donations go to a good cause: supporting programs that help the nation’s #veterans. And thanking #veterans — those who served — by giving merchandise is about as close to the original meaning of Boxing Day as you can get.