2 Ways to Safely Celebrate Independence Day

The fourth of July, otherwise known as Independence Day, is a holiday celebrated by Americans who are vastly proud of their country.

From setting off fireworks, to grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, the fourth of July is a day in which we all come together as one, in order to reflect on how the Declaration of Independence forever changed the country, and gave us our independence.

However, we must not forget that as part of the day of celebration, we must carefully consider how we are going to celebrate the holiday in a safe manner. Here are two tips on how to celebrate Independence Day in peace and harmony.

1. Keep the gatherings small; Covid-19 is still on the loose!

• While the thought of celebrating any holiday is one that is full of excitement, we must not forget that there is something still going around, and that thing is Covid-19. Although a large majority of Americans are now vaccinated (which is a positive factor), there is still the likelihood that someone who is not vaccinated could be in attendance at a friend or family gathering. Therefore, it is important that if you are planning to have a group of people together, big or small, that you check to see if they are vaccinated, and if they are not, that they have not been showing any symptoms that could indicate the virus. It might be beneficial to have those who are not vaccinated required to wear a mask, but with restrictions on masks being lifted recently, this could create more of an issue.

1. Consider the neighbors when setting off fireworks.

• Perhaps this point seems silly to mention, but it is often overlooked when it comes to celebratory gatherings. If you have neighbors, consider the following possibilities: whether or not they have small children, pets, or are elderly. What these three factors have in common is that they, under no circumstances, enjoy the frightening sound of fireworks being set off in the street. It is known that especially with pets, there can be the feeling of fear and anxiety, and as a pet owner, that is not something that will want to be dealt with. As such, please think about the situation that could be at hand regarding your neighbors. This point comes from a selfless perspective, but would demonstrate to your neighbors that you were keeping them in the back of your mind as you celebrated.

As we begin to prepare and gather food, decorations, and of course, fireworks, it is crucial that as human beings, we think about how to celebrate the yearly holiday in a safe and productive manner.

While celebrating with groups of people and lighting fireworks sounds like fun, by following these two important points, there should be no issues surrounding the celebration of the fourth of July, and everyone who is involved will be able to enjoy the holiday to its full extent. Be careful, have fun, and most of all, think logically when celebrating the red, white and blue!