Officials Urge Safety Over 4th Of July Weekend
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Public safety officials are encouraging
families to take precautions to ensure the Fourth of July holiday
is a safe one. State police plan extra patrols of Arkansas highways
and Mothers Against Drunk Drivers is urging holiday revelers to
designate drivers.
Scott Allen, director of community outreach at Arkansas
Childrens Hospital, said the holiday can be especially dangerous
for children. He said the biggest concern is water safety because
July is the biggest month for childhood drownings.
Firework safety also is a concern. Allen said boys ages ten
through 14 make up the largest percentage of those injured by
fireworks.
Don Kinney, assistant Little Rock fire chief, said the best way
to avoid firework injuries is for parents to take children to
community displays rather than lighting fireworks at home.
The largest public display will be Little Rock`s 21st annual
Pops on the River Sunday evening. Each year, the concert and
fireworks display draws between 30,000
and 35,000 spectators.
