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Independence Day may be the best time to indulge in BBQs, outdoor activities, and sunshine with family and friends.

Here are some helpful tips and resources to make your Holiday safe and fun-filled!

Proper food preparation for your outdoor feast

• Make sure to buy cold meats and poultry right before checkout, and guard against cross-contamination with other food items in your cart by ensuring they are properly sealed in plastic bags.
• Be sure to keep food cold until placed on the grill, and cook thoroughly until the safe minimum internal temperatures have been reached (Poultry: 165 degrees; Ground meats: 160 degrees; Steaks, roasts and chops: 145 degrees and allow to rest at least 3 mins).
• Be sure to have plenty of fresh utensils and plates so that the same ones are not used for raw and cooked meats. In hot weather (above 90 degrees) food should never sit out for more than 1 hour.

Looking for some summer recipes to add to the table? Check out DailyBuzz Moms’s Summer Cooking collection.

Recreational safety

• If boating, be sure you and your family members are wearing life jackets! Boating fatalities are at their highest level since 1998, and of the drowning fatalities last year, 84% of victims were not wearing life jackets.
• Be sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying and using them.  Keep a bucket of water or garden hose handy in case of a fire or other mishap, and after fireworks complete their burning douse the them with plenty of water before discarding to prevent trash fire.