Okay, okay, we KNOW that isn’t the way the idiom goes. To us, though, at Warren Academy, we’re all about the football. Today is the 4th of July so we’re going to take a little break from our normal topics surrounding Omaha football camps, the benefits of youth football, the struggles of student-athletes, and the top reasons sports are good for kids.

Today, we’re giving our seven top 4th of July safety tips because most people need all of their fingers and toes to play football well!

We have adapted our list from the National Council on Fireworks Safety’s list here:

Make sure you know your local laws and regulations.

In Omaha, the National Safety Council of Nebraska lists out the different ordinances for the city limits of Omaha and the main suburbs. You can check out their list here.

Whatever days and times are listed for legally firing off fireworks, make sure you take note of them and follow them. Tickets can get expensive for firing them off outside of approved hours.

For all legal fireworks you’ve purchased, make sure you read all directions and the warning labels!

Before you start lighting off fireworks, make sure you know exactly what you’re doing. Find out how fast they’re likely to burn, and how much lead time you’ll have to get to a safe distance.

Adults should, at the very least, supervise.

We like to recommend that adults are the ones shooting off the fireworks. But at the very least, an adult needs to be supervising. These are not “toys” in the traditional sense. Fireworks, when used irresponsibly or when they malfunction, can cause serious injuries to bodies and to property. It’s important that an adult is there to handle each situation should they come up.

Have a first aid kit, ready and waiting.

Accidents happen. It’s a fact of life. Even a simple paper cut from firework packaging makes that first aid kit well worth it!

Wear safety glasses and closed-toe shoes.

Keeping as much of yourself covered and protected when you’re working with fireworks is always recommended. Closed-toe shoes can help prevent tripping (flip flops and sandals may get snagged or bend and trip you up) and can protect your toes.

Light one firework at a time and back away.

As tempting as it can be, don’t wire together multiple fireworks and light them off in one big batch. Light them individually and back away each time.. Otherwise, you’re messing with the equivalent of homemade fireworks (another big NO!).

Keep pets inside - preferably in a quiet room.

Most pets don’t like loud noises. At the very least, keep them tethered if they’re outside with you. Ideally, it’s best to keep them inside the house, in a quiet room, with plenty of food and water. If you know your pet has a big issue with fireworks, contact your vet about medications that may help to keep them more calm through the festivities.

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Warren Academy, powered by DREAM, has been helping student athletes increase their performance, mentally and physically, since 2008. With over 10 years of service, Warren Academy has helped guide hundreds of athletes to college. Interested in learning more about Warren’s Omaha football camps and other programs? Contact us today!