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Keep holiday safe
Next week, Rappahannock County will join the rest of our nation in celebrating the 214th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Unfortunately, if past years are any indication, Independence Day will also be marked by pain, suffering and tragedy due to fireworks mishaps and traffic accidents.
All too often, those injuries and deaths could have been prevented by a little foresight and, more important, some common sense.
Last week, the Virginia Affiliate of the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness announced that it has changed its policy regarding fireworks. No longer will the Society sanction the use of fireworks with adult supervision. Citing the more than 10,000 injuries blamed on fireworks mishaps each year, the Society has decided that fireworks — even in their most mundane forms, such as sparklers — should be left in the hands of professionals trained in their handling and display.
We urge our readers to follow the Society’s lead and attend a professionally-produced display rather than attempting to create a backyard version. All to often, such a celebration turns to sadness due to miscalculations or carelessness.
And for those of our readers traveling next week — please heed the Virginia State Police when they urge great caution on the roads. Because the holiday falls mid-week this year, the State Police point out, many people will be tempted to fit a long weekend into an overnight trip — and the temptation to speed goes right along with that.
Add to the mix crowded highways and fatigued drivers, and the potential for serious accidents soars. The State Police will increase their patrols, but they also depend on the vast majority of travelers who are responsible motorists to assist them in their traffic control and enforcement efforts.
And, one final caution almost goes without saying: If you drink, don’t drive.
We wish our readers a happy — and safe — Independence Day. The occasion is a joyous one, and we hope to report next week only the success of Washington’s Independence Day celebration.
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