Have a Safe Independence Day and Canada Day

When it comes to celebrating our independence, the United States and Canada have a lot more in common than a shared border.  In Canada, we celebrate our independence on July 1, a national holiday called Canada Day. Just a few days later, the United States celebrates its independence on the Fourth of July.

Both countries have similar celebrations, with outdoor picnics and barbecues, swimming and boating in pools and lakes, and an evening capped with fireworks cascading through the night sky. It’s a magical holiday that kicks off the summer, but it’s also a great time to reinforce important summertime safety tips.

• Grill Safety – Always grill outdoors, and keep the grill away from the house and deck. Check your hose connections for leaks and remember to keep pets and kids away from the grill.

• Food Safety – Never leave food out for more than two hours—one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees. And make sure food that needs to be kept cold is in a cooler with lots of ice.

• Sun Safety – When you’re in the sun, drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, and be sure to wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more. Remember to reapply as soon as you get out of the water.

• Water Safety – Have a safety system in place to keep an eye on everyone in the water.

• Firework Safety – Fireworks and alcohol don’t mix. Fireworks and children don’t mix either.
  In fact, fireworks are safest and most spectacular when they are handled by the experts at your local community display.

Sodexo is committed to improving performance and enhancing quality of life for the individuals, organizations and communities we serve. View this video to learn how you can have a safe Independence Day in the U.S. and Canada, and stay safe all summer long.

Mårten Stenfors is Head of Safety for Sodexo North America where he is responsible for leading the Quality Assurance, Food Safety and Environment, Health and Safety teams to drive a safe environment for Sodexo.

Dean Johnson is CEO of Service Operations for Sodexo North America where he is responsible for a portfolio of activities including operational efficiency and growth, IT, facilities management services, foodservice program development, safety and supply management. With $9.3 billion in annual revenues in the U.S. and Canada, Sodexo’s 133,000 employees provide more than 100 unique services that increase performance at 9,000 client sites and improve Quality of Life for 15 million consumers every day.