American Red Cross of Greater Chicago Wishes You a Safe and Happy Fourth of July!

Fourth of July is my favorite Holiday. It is a time where I get together with friends and family to spend hours in the sun, swimming, grilling, relaxing and watching fireworks. To me nothing could be better.

A few years back I had some friends who decided to light bottle rockets off in an alley near our house. Simple and seemingly harmless. However, as the night progressed, these same friends began to entertain themselves by lighting off multiple bottle rockets at a time. I wanted no part of it, but I let them be because they seemed to be having fun.

It was no more than minutes later that a friend of mine walked into the house with his entire hand bleeding. He was not being safe, and the bottle exploded in his hand, cutting his entire hand open, and needless to say ruining his 4th of July fun. We were having a blast until this simple act of carelessness, put fear into all of us.

Now, I know you may not believe that this will happen to you, or maybe that this story was not that bad. But I am left wondering if he wasn’t hurt then, would things of escalated? Things like this happen all of the time, and it is important to remember that despite the hours of relaxation and fun you are having you must first watch out for your safety and the safety of those around you.

As you travel to lake houses, vacations, to visit friends or family or stay home, be careful not just with fireworks, but with all activities. Whether grilling, swimming, or other activities you do, practice safe actions. I am not here to lecture, nor do I want to put a damper in your mood before this great, and to me the best, holiday weekend, but I do encourage a little safety. Don’t let not being prepared ruin your weekend.

That is why I am offering these safety tips, encouraging you to have fun, but be safe. American Red Cross even has tips and kits to provide you with all your Preparedness needs.

Have a great weekend and an amazing Fourth of July!

~Megan~

Photo courtesy of Merrick Brown

What's Good in Chicago

Hey Red Cross Readers!
How much do you love Chicago? My favorite thing about this remarkable Midwest metropolis is the seemingly limitless amount of entertainment. Especially so when the sun starts shining and the temperature is rising! That’s right, just because our focus is on safety and preparedness at the Red Cross doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate fun times. We just know how to do it right. So, if you’re looking to make the best of the time and space you occupy, here’s an update on the wonderful events that your city offers this month.

Thursday, May 16
Come out and experience a day of art, music, dance, and life at the grand opening of the Modern Wing at the The Art Institute of Chicago! Museum leaders, city officials, and the renowned architect of the Modern Wing, Renzo Piano, will be present for the brand new building’s civic dedication at 9 a.m. and ribbon cutting ceremony at 10. Performances by international and local artists will take place all day on an outdoor stage on Monroe Street as well as in galleries throughout the museum. Lecturers will be present to discuss the latest additions and interactive art programs will be available for kids and their families at the new Ryan Education Center. If you can’t make it for the event, be sure to stop by when you can and see the newest and most definitely the hottest cultural attraction in Chicago. Read about why it's so great!

Thursday, May 16 & Friday, May 17
The Chicago Green Festival, a joint project of Global Exchange and Green America, will showcase more than 350 diverse local and national green businesses at Navy Pier. More than 150 speakers will appear for insightful panel discussions and presentations on how Midwest neighbors, community nonprofits, and city departments are working together to make their cities a healthier place to live.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 14 – Oct 15
The Chicago Farmers Markets are a great place to find fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, and flowers from over 70 vendors at 20 locations throughout the city. My favorite is the Daley Plaza Farmers Market which takes place every Thursday from 11 a.m. – 3.

Sunday, May 24
Experience Chicago like never before – biking on a car-free Lake Shore Drive! The City of Chicago will open the eight lanes of Lake Shore Drive to bicyclists for the annual Bank of America Bike the Drive event. This is a benefit for the Active Transportation Alliance (formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation), a non-profit biking, walking and transit advocacy organization. Register Here to enjoy 15 miles of open road between the gorgeous Michigan Lake shore and the outstanding Chicago architecture.

But don’t forget to travel safely. Always bring a personal safety kit with you whenever you’re away from home. If you don’t have one, visit our store and find the right sized kit for you and your family. Planning on taking a dip in the lake after your bike ride? Sign up for swimming and CPR classes so you’re ready in case of emergencies.

I strongly encourage you to take full advantage of our lovely city this May and to enjoy the sunny seasons without regret. Be safe!

George J Hofmann II
Development Operations Intern at the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago