For many of the Thumb’s visitors and residents, the Fourth of July extended holiday is slated to begin tomorrow evening and go through Sunday night, with Sheriff Kelly Hanson of Huron County providing safety tips so everyone can enjoy the holiday without worries.
Two typical summer holiday activities that can become problematic are using fireworks and boating.
With many municipalities having a fireworks ordinance, police urge the community to adhere to their city’s fireworks ordinance to avoid fines and ensure community safety, and to remember that use of public spaces for fireworks is prohibited. Improper use of fireworks has from time to time disrupted neighborhoods, caused property damage and serious injuries to a few, especially when drugs or alcohol are added to the mix. With county law enforcement responding to late hour noise complaints and property damage, Hanson reminds everyone that being extra cautious while using fireworks is a priority, along with being respectful of your neighbors in a close second.
The Port Huron Police Department also released a more in-depth list regarding firework safety, providing tips on how to safely handle your fireworks. For instance, it is recommended that you use fireworks in a clear, open area away from buildings, vehicles, and flammable materials on your property, and to keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby in case of fire or other mishaps. Once the fun is done and the fireworks complete their burning, douse the fireworks with plenty of water before disposing of them in a metal trash can.
For those taking to the lake this holiday, Hanson cannot stress the importance of making sure your boat is properly safety equipped and in good mechanical condition, as well as always observing state and federal boating laws. Hanson also encourages kayakers to know their physical limits, current sea conditions on the lake, and to understand that even though it is mid-summer, nearshore surface water temperatures are only in the upper 60s and long-term exposure in it can still lead to hypothermia.
Furthermore, Hanson says that under no circumstance should anyone venture out without a proper fitting life jacket, reminding the community that the Huron County Sheriff’s office is partnered with the Village of Port Austin and the Port Austin Fire Department to make loaner life jackets available for the day to kayakers who may have forgotten theirs. These life jackets are available at the Bird Creek Beach and Veterans Park, with loaner life jackets also available at the Caseville Harbor by their launch ramp. Besides having a life jacket and proper attire, kayakers are strongly urged to carry a cellular phone in some type of water proof container, and to let someone on shore know where you’re going and when you expect to be back.
In lieu of several trespassing complaints from years previous, the sheriff further asks kayakers to be respectful of shoreline property owners and their privacy rights. Hanson also reminds drivers of any vehicle or boat not to drive drunk or under the influence of drugs. “We honestly do want everyone to enjoy themselves, as well as our county for everything it has to offer,” Hanson said via press release. “Memories made of good times are better to retain than those where believed innocent fun turns into tragedy within seconds.”
