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North GA — The North Georgia Health District office and all county public health facilities and programs — including Health Departments, Environmental Health offices, and WIC services in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties, as well as The Living Bridge Center clinics in Canton, Dalton, and Gainesville — will be closed on Friday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day.

All public health services will resume on Monday, July 7th.

We wish everyone a safe, healthy, and happy Fourth of July!

String of flags safety web 🎆 Stay Safe While Celebrating the 4th of July

The Fourth of July is a time for family fun—cookouts 🌭, swimming 🏊‍♀️, fireworks 🎇, and more. But these holiday traditions also come with serious safety risks, especially for children... see our safety tips below: 

🎇 Fireworks Safety:
Leave fireworks to the professionals 🎆. In 2023, nearly 10,000 people were treated for firework-related injuries—most involving hands, arms, or legs. Children 👧🧒 should not handle fireworks or sparklers, which can get as hot as 2,000°F 🔥 and cause severe burns.

If you do use legal fireworks:

  • 🚫 Never allow children near them.

  • 🍻 Avoid alcohol or drugs while using fireworks.

  • 💧 Keep water nearby (hose, bucket, or extinguisher).

  • 🚷 Never relight a dud.

  • 🪣 Douse used fireworks in water before throwing them away.

🌊 Water Safety:
Drowning can happen quickly and quietly.

  • 👀 Always assign a dedicated adult to watch kids in the water.

  • 📍 Only swim in designated safe areas.

  • 🍹 Avoid alcohol while swimming.

  • 🤝 Stay within arm’s reach of young children.

  • 🏊 Ensure everyone knows how to swim.

🔥 Fire Pit & Grill Safety:

  • 👨‍🍳 Supervise open flames at all times.

  • 🚫 Keep kids at a safe distance.

  • 💦 Fully extinguish fires with water.

  • ⚠️ Remember: coals and ash stay hot for up to 48 hours!

❤️ Final Thought:
Celebrating safely means fewer ER visits 🏥 and more joyful memories 🥳. Stay alert, stay prepared, and have a safe and happy Independence Day! 🎉🦅