ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – As the Fourth of July holiday weekend approaches, we have events taking place on just about every inch of our community.
One of the largest events leading up to Independence Day happens over at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs.
I was out there Friday morning conducting a livestream to talk about some general safety tips for attending large events and of course giving you a heads up about the traffic patterns.
[RELATED: Red Hot & Boom in Altamonte Springs is downsizing. Here’s what we know]
Make sure you’re physically prepared to attend these events, first of all. You’re going to be hanging out in the heat, potentially drinking sugary or alcoholic drinks, so keep your hydration in mind and drink water, too.
Consider dropping a GPS pin wherever you end up parking and send it to people you know so that there’s less of a chance you end up lost in a parking lot as you head back home. You could also take it a step further and discuss a place to meet up with others if you get separated from them.
[TRENDING: Become a News 6 Insider]
What about a weather event, such as lightning, causing a crowd to scatter? Rain chances aren’t out of the question throughout the holiday weekend in Central Florida, so you might want to agree on a place to meet in the event you’re separated from your party for just that if nothing else.
You’ll want to be situationally aware regardless. We had a situation last year at Orlando’s Lake Eola where 12 people were injured in a scrambling crowd at an Independence Day celebration. According to Orlando police, it’s believed someone threw firecrackers into that crowd and caused the commotion.
Limit the amount of stuff you bring, too. Having a treasure trove with you at any large event poses a risk that you could lose it, that it could slow you down if you need to quickly leave or that it could be stolen. Keep in mind also that backpacks are sometimes restricted in crowded events, so do some research into the plans you’re making and figure that out case-by-case.
Festival, carnival, fireworks show, whatever — you should be prepared. Be hydrated, minimize your baggage, mind your exits and entrances, know where your car is, keep well in touch with the people you arrive with and don’t stress out.
Stay safe this holiday weekend, and thanks for riding along!
You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: