The Fourth of July is approaching, and that means barbeques and fireworks! Many people love seeing the bright colors fly through the night air, but it is important to keep in mind that fireworks are explosives, and only professionals should handle them.

A study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shows that more than 200 people, on average, go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in July close to the Independence Day holiday. Follow these tips to prevent injury from fireworks:

• Attend fireworks displays and leave the lighting to the professionals.
• Do not try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully ignited.
• Keep sparklers away from children. They can burn at temperatures about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.

For more information on fireworks safety, check out the CPSC Fireworks page .

Summer brings warm weather, beach days, and fun in the sun, but you should prepare for possible severe weather. This includes extreme heat, hurricanes, lightning, and wildfires.

Prepare your family for summer weather hazards while at home or traveling with information from the National Weather Service and the Ready Campaign . Learn how to prepare and respond to the hazards most common during the summer by clicking any of the links below:

• Extreme Heat
• Floods
• Hurricanes
• Lightning
• Rip Currents/Beach Hazards
• Wildfires

Find additional flood , hurricane , tornado , and wildfire preparedness information on the Prepareathon website.

Are you ready for your summer vacation?

Whether planning a road trip or traveling abroad, stay prepared for emergencies with information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of State , the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Ready Campaign , and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Please consider the following tips:

• Create a Communication Plan to stay in contact with friends and family.
• Download the FEMA App .
• Review the Travelers' Health information from the CDC.
• Before driving, click through the NHTSA's Summer Driving Tips .
• If traveling abroad, use the Traveler's Checklist from the State Department.
• When flying, follow the TSA's Airport Security Tips .

To learn more about emergency preparedness, visit www.ready.gov .