Regarding 4th of July celebrations, Hamilton county officials said, "The Fourth of July is a great holiday to celebrate our nation’s birthday. But, this year may look a bit different from previous years. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many cities to cancel their fireworks displays to keep large crowds from gathering in one place. Though some shows are still on, it is important to be very careful when it comes to social distancing.
"If consumer fireworks are legal to buy where you live and you choose to use them, be sure to follow the following safety tips:
• Never allow young children to handle fireworks;
• Older children should use them only under close adult supervision;
• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol;
• Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eye wear;
• Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands;
• Never light them indoors;
• Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material;
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person;
• Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting;
• Never ignite devices in a container;
• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks;
• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding;
• Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire; and
• Never use illegal fireworks.
Better yet, grab a blanket and a patch of lawn, kick back and let the experts handle the fireworks show."
"COVID is still here and it isn’t going away any time soon,” says Chris Adams, director of Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management. “In fact, Hamilton County continues to have new cases daily. We need people to remain vigilant. Wear your mask while you are in public and/or around a crowd of people. Continue to social distance yourself from others. And as always, wash those hands.”