Let's have a safe and sane holiday

McCook is planning an "Old Fashioned Fourth of July Party" at the Jaycees Complex in honor of McCook's 125th birthday, complete with a free-will donation hot dog and watermelon feed, a vintage baseball game featuring local celebrities decked out in antique uniforms from the Stuhr Museum, and ending with a "Patriotic and Proud" program accompanied by the Optimist Club's fireworks show at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds.

And that's only one of the many area celebrations going on Wednesday to celebrate the birthday of the United States of America.

Most of us have gotten over the disappointment of not having an extra day or two to celebrate the Fourth. Having Independence Day land on a Wednesday means a one-day holiday, unless we put in for a day or two off.

For many of us, it means a larger portion of our time off on the road, less time with friends and relatives. Or, simply staying home and enjoying a hometown celebration like that at the Jaycees Complex.

The latter might be the wiser choice; according to the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety, over the 78 hour Fourth of July holiday period in 2006, there were four fatalities in Nebraska -- all alcohol-related. One has to look back to 2003 to find a year in which there were no fatalities in the state.

This year, the National Safety Council estimates nationally there will be 203 traffic fatalities and 10,600 nonfatal disabling traffic injuries during the period that begins at 6 p.m. today and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday.

And, simple steps can make a big difference. While an estimated 174 lives may be saved because people wear their safety belts, an additional 48 people could be alive after the holiday if everyone did.

And, thank goodness McCook has a taxi service. If you find yourself impaired, give the taxi a call, or if one's not available, call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely. And if you're the one receiving the call, do your duty to get the caller home safely.

Better yet, think ahead, designate a sober driver and give that person your keys.

If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact law enforcement promptly.

And, as the saying goes, don't let friends drive drunk. Confiscate their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements.

Fireworks are of special concern, of course, with 147 injuries reported by Nebraska hospitals in 2006, according to the Nebraska Fire Marshal's office.

Eighty-five percent of the injuries occurred between July 1 and 5, with half of them on July 4. Lincoln and Omaha had the most injuries, of course, with a total of 48 fireworks-related injuries. Around the state, 48 suffered second second-degree burns, 23 had first-degree burns and 20 had abrasions. Worse, the number suffering partial sight loss rose from four in 2005 to 11 in 2006.

So let's all do our best to have a sane and sober one-day holiday. And, if you take in the festivities at the Jaycees ball complex on Wednesday, don't forget to be generous in your donations.