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Jul 3, 2008 5:10 pm US/Central
Staying Safe This 4th Of July
NORTH TEXAS (CBS 11 News) ―
Thousands of North Texans are launching their Fourth of July celebrations Thursday night and some of those celebrations come with hazards.
While the bans on fireworks vary from county to county, a good rule of thumb to see if fireworks are allowed in a particular area is to
check the county burn ban map. The spark from fireworks can easily start an uncontrollable wildfire and shouldn't be fired in areas where there is a burn ban.
If you are unsure about where it is legal to shoot off fireworks, contact your local fire marshal to stay out of trouble. Remember, arson is a second degree felony. If you see any suspicious activity, you can report it on the Arson hotline at 1-888-501-3850. The Texas Forest Service offers up to $2,000 for reports leading to conviction.
To be extra safe, leave the fireworks to the professionals and
attend a public fireworks show. However, if you are avoiding the crowds,
click here to see what the traffic is like before starting your journey out.
Heat-related illness is also a serious issue this time of year.
Click here for tips on how to prevent getting sick and how to stay safe.
The
SPCA of Texas offers the following tips for protecting pets this weekend:
• Make sure they have current tags and a microchip to ensure their safe return should they bolt out of fear.
• Be aware of neighborhood pranksters throwing firecrackers over your fence to frighten your pet. Also be careful using sparklers, as they can burn animals as well as people.
• Allow your pets the freedom to seek refuge under the bed, behind the toilet or in the back of the closet. This may soothe them more than cuddling with them.
• If your pet gets especially stressed or your neighborhood is particularly noisy, you may wish to talk to your veterinarian about the practicality of using tranquilizers or homeopathic remedies. Consider sending your pet to a nice quiet boarding kennel for the worst of it.
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