July 2011
73 posts
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Send Us Your Fourth of July Photos
Image description: Fireworks over a lake. Photographed by Amida Gallito.
We want to see how you celebrate Independence Day. Send us the best photo from your Fourth of July celebration and we might highlight it on our blog.
You can post your Fourth of July photo on our Facebook wall, tweet it to @USAgov, or leave a comment on this post with the link to your photo.
Have a great Fourth of July...
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Be Prepared for Your Beach Trip
If you’re going to the beach this summer, use these resources to help you plan ahead:
Beach Safety — Learn about rip currents and other beach dangers to be aware of.
Sun Protection — Use sunscreen, clothing, and sunglasses to protect your skin from the dangerous and aging effects of UV radiation.
Coastal Water Temperatures — Find out how warm (or cold) the water will be...
June 2011
48 posts
4 tags
Stay Safe in the Water This Summer
Spending time in the pool is one of the most popular ways to stay cool each summer. Although it seems like all fun and games, remember that water safety is critical. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 3,000 people die from unintended drowning each year.
Use these tips from poolsafety.gov to make sure your day by the pool doesn’t end in tragedy:
Learn CPR
Actively supervise...
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If you're going on a road trip this summer, take a... →
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1.USA.gov Open Data and Hack Day
In March, we announced a new URL shortening service called 1.USA.gov. 1.USA.gov automatically creates .gov URLs whenever you use bitly to shorten a URL that ends in .gov or .mil. We created this service to make it easy for people to know when a short URL will lead to official, and trustworthy, government information.
Data is created every time someone clicks on a 1.USA.gov link, which happens...
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Keep Kids Safe Online
While the internet is a great place for kids to learn, watch funny videos and catch up with friends, it can also be dangerous because of child predators. The FBI offers guidelines on what to look out for if you think your child might be at risk for a child predator’s unwanted advances:
Monitor the amount of time your child spends on the computer. Staying up late after school or on the weekends...
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New Crib Safety Standards
Starting today, all cribs manufactured and sold in the United States must follow new federal safety regulations. It is now illegal to manufacture or sell traditional drop-side rail cribs. All cribs must have more durable mattress support, slats, and hardware and manufacturers must go through a more rigorous testing process.
There is not a new recall on drop-side rail cribs because of these new...
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Read the actual copy of the treaty of Versailles →
The treaty of Versailles was signed on this day in 1919, officially ending WWI.
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Stay Safe During a Lightning Storm
Thunder and lightning storms happen frequently during the summer months, so it’s important to know what you should do if a storm catches you by surprise.
As part of National Lightning Awareness Week, FEMA offers these tips for how to avoid injury during a lightning storm:
Avoid contact with corded phones.
Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords. If you plan to unplug any...
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Today is National HIV Testing Day →
Learn why and where to get tested.
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Are you moving soon? →
Make sure you continue to receive mail and any government benefits at your new location.
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Avoid Cell Phone Radiation Scams
There is no scientific proof that cell phone radiation shields significantly reduce exposure from cell phone emissions, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
A “shield” is any product that claims to block radiation from harming someone using a cell phone.
But scam artists might still try to sell the so-called “shields.” Products that only block one part of the phone...
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Fireworks: Hot as a Blow Torch!
By The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Sparklers burn at 2000° F or even hotter.
That’s as hot as a blow torch.
It’s as hot as the charcoal fire in a grill.
2000 degrees is so hot it can melt copper.
Fireworks like bottle rockets and small firecrackers may appear harmless because of their small size, but they sent 1,900 people to emergency rooms last year during the 30 days...
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Today is the summer solstice! →
It’s the longest, but not the warmest, day of the year. Learn why.
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New Cigarette Labels Released
Today the FDA released new warning labels that will start to appear on cigarette packaging and advertising in September 2012.
The new labels are the first change in cigarette warnings in more than 25 years.
View all the new labels.
