Happy Fourth of July – Safety Tips from Long Lake, Ltd!!

July 1, 2013

The Fourth of July holiday is this Thursday and we’d like to take this time to give you some safety tips to make this holiday enjoyable and safe.  Currently, there are over $35 million a year in national fire damages resulting from fireworks and decorations associated with fireworks.  Each year, thousands of people rush to emergency rooms on the Fourth of July holiday, because of injuries caused by fireworks.

We here at Long Lake want you to spend your Fourth of July celebrating and not waiting hours in an emergency room or spending your entire night on the phone with an insurance company.  Following is a list of some important steps you can take to help prevent accidents and unnecessary insurance claims:

Be prepared for the unexpected

Go over your current insurance coverages with your agent.  It’s not uncommon to plan “special events” without knowing whether you have coverage for incidents resulting from that event.  Have your agent explain any gaps in coverage and work to try and fill those gaps.

Make sure you understand what your homeowners or rental insurance covers when it comes to medical expenses and property damages associated with a special event.  These damages can be very expensive and you may not have the proper insurance coverage.  In addition, most insurance policies will not provide coverage for preventable injuries caused by illegal activities.

Drinking alcohol around fireworks

The Fourth of July is known to be the number one holiday for drunk driving accidents.  The Fourth of July is the deadliest holiday of the year, and is even deadlier than the New Year’s holiday.

If a guest or third-party is injured as a result of alcohol consumption and that consumption can be linked to you or your business, you or your business will be held responsible.  The types of legal expenses resulting from these types of accidents include: medical bills, vehicle repair costs, lost time from work, and a worst-case scenario – wrongful death claims.

Obey laws and regulations

Make sure that fireworks are legal in your area, before you buy them or use them.  Fireworks that are packed in brown paper are usually made for professional displays and are very dangerous for consumers.  Make sure that the fireworks you purchase are not wrapped in brown paper.

Moreover, stay away from illegal fireworks.  Illegal fireworks are very dangerous, which is why they are illegal.  If you receive a ticket or have a claim that results from the use of illegal fireworks, your insurance will not provide coverage.

Tips for staying safe

  • Don’t let young children play with fireworks.  Even sparklers can be very dangerous for children.  Sparklers burn at a temperature of 2000°, which is hot enough to melt some metals.
  • Keep people at a safe distance from where fireworks will be ignited.
  • Make sure that you light your fireworks away from dry leaves, dry grass, tree overhangs, and gutters.  People get excited in the moment of popping fireworks, and don’t pay attention to these dry areas.  Gutters are the most common trouble areas for fireworks.  If just one firework lands in a gutter full of dry leaves, the house will be engulfed in flames within a few minutes.
  • Keep away from duds.  It a firework doesn’t perform, leave it alone for some time.  It’s not uncommon for duds to work later than usual, resulting in injury.
  • Keep the fire extinguisher or a source of water readily available.
  • Make sure that children and pets are at a safe distance from fireworks.  Designate someone to watch them at all times.

These tips all seem like common sense, but many people forget about them when they’re caught up in a moment of fun.