Staying Safe This Holiday Weekend

Fireworks, friends and fun: essential aspects of a quality Fourth of July weekend.

Preparing for your weekend and following the law can help prevent the celebration from turning tragic and local police and fire officials are encouraging residents to take steps to ensure a fun, incident-free weekend.

There are likely to be fewer cars on the road than usual this holiday weekend, according to AAA Travel of Southern Connecticut, but with 39 million people still expected to travel 50 miles or more, safe driving practices remain imperative said Southington Police Sgt. Lowell DePalma.

DePalma said Southington police will have full staffing for every shift over the weekend, including Monday, and officers have been instructed to be on the look out fro drunk drivers.

“There will be specific concentration on enforcement of DUI, speeding, seatbelt, and cell phone laws,” DePalma said. “Our goal is to prevent any tragedies before they happen and we ask residents to join in the effort by following the rules of the road and remaining safe.”

AAA Travel asks residents to make sure they take the following precautions to stay safe:

• Never drink and drive. If you plan to drink, set a designated driver ahead of time or make arrangements to stay with friends.
• Wear your seatbelt. Not only is it the law but it could save your life.
• Do not drive distracted. Put down the phone and avoid unnecessary tasks when traveling. Keep it with you in case of an emergency, however.
• Bring water. If you break down in the heat, water can keep you hydrated.

If you plan to use fireworks this holiday season, fire officials encourage you to also do so safely – and according to Connecticut laws.

State laws prohibit any fireworks with the exception of sparklers and fountains.

“Sparklers are defined as non-explosive, non-aerial devices that contain less than 100 grams of pyrotechnic mixture. Fountains are defined as less having less than 100 grams per individual item,” DePalma said.

Fire officials said residents using sparklers and fountains should also be at least 16 years old and should never do so while drinking or in areas with flammable materials.

“Safe practices can make all the difference,” DePalma said.