The Indiana State Department of Health has some tips for making this Fourth of July safe.

The single most important step in preparing and consuming food is to wash your hands before cooking, serving or eating. It is especially important to wash your hands after handling raw meat, ground beef and poultry.

"It's deceptively simple, but it works," said Art Logsdon, assistant commissioner for Consumer Regulatory Services at the Indiana State Department of Health.

Another method for avoiding food-borne illness is to buy a good meat thermometer and use it to make sure the meat is cooked to appropriate temperatures. Pork and ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 155 degrees for at least 15 seconds. If you don't have a meat thermometer, cook meats until the juices run clear. Ground beef should be brown or at least brownish pink in the center before it's served.

"Never let cold food sit out for an extended period of time," said Logsdon. "If food is intended to be served cold, keep it cold. And if it's intended to be served warm, keep it warm."

Other food safety tips include:

• When grocery shopping during hot weather, make perishables your last pickup in the store. Never leave them in the car while you run other errands - it doesn't take long for bacteria to form. Get perishables home and into the refrigerator immediately.

• Thaw meat or poultry safely by leaving it overnight in the refrigerator. Don't leave meat or poultry out on the counter for an extended time before you cook it.

• Don't leave leftovers on the picnic table or allow foods to cool on the kitchen counter. Put foods directly into the refrigerator within two hours of serving. If you divide large quantities of leftovers into smaller portions, they will chill more quickly to temperatures that inhibit the growth of bacteria.

• Make sure to cook eggs until both the white and the yolk are firm.

Injuries around the holiday often are caused by improper or careless use of fireworks.

"As the Fourth of July approaches, we want to remind Hoosiers that most fireworks injuries are preventable," said Cathy Nordholm, of the Indiana State Department of Health's Injury Prevention Program. "Eye injuries caused by fireworks are often severe and can cause blindness."

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, some 12,000 people nationwide are treated each year in hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to fireworks. Of these, about 20 percent are eye injuries.

Other tips to consider during this fireworks season are:

• Don't allow young children to play with fireworks.

• Closely supervise older children who are permitted to use fireworks.

• Don't allow any boisterous play while fireworks are being used.

• Before using any fireworks, read and follow all warning instructions.

• Light fireworks outdoors in a clear area, away from flammable materials and houses.

• Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies and for dousing fireworks that don't go off.

• Don't try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Instead, soak them with water and throw then away.

• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.

• Never ignite fireworks in a container, especially one made of glass or metal.

• Store fireworks in a dry, cool place, according to the instructions.

• Always wear eye protection when lighting or using any fireworks. [[In-content Ad]]