Ideas for a safe 4th of July Published June 28, 2013 By Mr. Dan Heald 5th Bomb Wing Ground Safety MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The Fourth of July is an opportunity for us to celebrate our countries independence and freedom. Many will take the long weekend to travel and see family and friends or just to see the country. Some will use this as an opportunity to barbeque with friends and enjoy all this nation's troops have fought for. But before heading out to enjoy this time, here are some things to keep in mind. When traveling, plan for the trip ahead of time. Give yourself plenty of time to make it to your destination safely. How much fun can be had if you arrive completely worn out from pushing yourself by driving longer than suggested and the body is in need of a couple days to get its required rest before having to drive back again. What if an accident happens because you fell asleep at the wheel? If you are lucky you may only have sustained damage to your vehicle; but if luck is not with you, your next reporting official may be St. Peter. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, on average there are 6.3 million police reported crashes a year and roughly 100,000 were related to a drowsy driver. This makes it a leading cause in vehicle mishaps. The myths people have about how to stay awake are unfounded and at times humorous. Driving with the radio turned up "real loud" only damages your hearing and could get you pulled over by the police for noise disturbance. Opening a window will give your hair that windswept look and divert bugs into your vehicle. Drinking a lot of coffee will keep you wired for a bit and have you stopping more often for bathroom breaks. Basically, if you start to feel tired while driving, stop somewhere and take a nap. Even a short 2-hour nap can give your body that chance it needs to recharge. However, if are traveling with your family, especially children, get a hotel room so you can sleep comfortably and the children can run and play so they are more pleasant as passengers the next day. When traveling with children, try to plan the trip with them in mind. Bringing games, books, and some of their music to "share" with everyone may help to minimize the asking of that critical question: "Are we there yet?" While planning your trip, try to plan some stops that will interest your passengers and give them something to look forward to. If all else fails, pull into a rest stop and play a game, this will refresh you as the driver and burn off some of the pent up energy your children may have. There is nothing like barbeque. Whether you are barbequing for just your family or with friends, give careful consideration to where the grill will be placed and don't forget about children and pets, where are they going to play? Don't cook under any paper decorations, unless you wish to be the subject of the next safety article. Fireworks are not allowed to be used or stored on Minot AFB. If you are going to be using fireworks off-base, keep a few things in mind. Children should only be allowed to use fireworks under adult supervision. Even sparklers can be dangerous to children; they burn at a very high temperature and could seriously burn someone, so please keep an eye on the little ones. Keep water handy in case the fireworks ignite something other than your awe. Should your celebration include alcohol, make plans for getting home or where to spend the night before the drinking begins. If you are hosting a gathering, collect everyone's car keys at the beginning of the gathering. Whoever has control of the keys shouldn't be drinking and before anyone can go they need to get their keys from someone capable of making a rational decision. Don't be just another statistic... Think before you drink.