With the Fourth of July weekend approaching and summer in full swing, Hillsborough County urges residents to be safe while lighting or watching fireworks, at a cookout, and dealing with those pesky mosquitoes.

Below are a few tips to follow and precautions to protect yourself, your family, your home.

Fireworks Safety

• Fireworks should only be used outdoors.
• Parents should not allow young children to handle or use fireworks.
• Children should not pick up spent fireworks, as the fireworks may still be active.
• Leave pets at home and indoors during festive fireworks celebrations.
• Know your fireworks; read the caution label before igniting, and light only one firework at a time.
• Wear safety glasses whenever using fireworks, and keep a bucket of water nearby.
• Soak spent fireworks with water before placing them in an outdoor, fire-resistant garbage can away from buildings and flammable materials.

Mosquito Control

• Dump any water collected in flower pots, gutters, toys, buckets, etc.
• Discard any items that are being stored outdoors and that aren’t being used.
• Empty and clean birdbaths and pet water bowls at least once a week.
• Maintain the water balance of swimming pools.
• Cover doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house.

Grilling Safety

• Only use your grill outside.
• Wear short sleeves or roll them up when cooking on the grill.
• Use long-handled barbecue tools.
• Keep a 3-foot safe zone around grills, fire pits and campfires. Never leave a grill or fire unattended.
• Open your gas grill before lighting.
• Clean your grill after each use to remove grease that can start a fire.
• Once coals have cooled completely, discard by placing into a metal container with a lid.