Sheriff Jay Russell and Deputies of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday. As we celebrate our country’s birthday, also be mindful of safety measures that can ensure your family has a safe and fun filled holiday celebration.
- Protect your skin against the sun with sunscreen and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
- Make sure everyone near water in pools, ponds, lakes or the ocean has the proper skills to swim. Keep an eye on young children and check floatation devices for leaks. We know that typically most drowning deaths involving children are due to the child being unattended for even a short period of time. It takes less than two minutes for a child to lose consciousness. Drowning is a “silent event” and even though you may believe you will your child or a child in distress, this may not necessarily be true.
- Check to be sure your grill is in proper working order. Don’t ignite charcoal with gasoline or lighter fluid. Use heat resistant tools and never lean over an open flame.
- Stay a safe distance away from any fireworks display. Be mindful of children with sparklers, as the wire remains hot enough to burn skin even after the sparks have ended. For more information concerning firework safety, click the link below to the previously posted safety tips on OPSO.net:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B83Jz79NHytCYWdrN0VidEFoTG8/view?usp=sharing
Remember, over 240 million calls are made to 9-1-1 annually. No one ever thinks they will be one of these calls. Follow these and other safety precautions to assure your family is safe.