Although Independence Day isn’t for another month and a half, it is never too early to be trained on how to properly operate fireworks. Every year, approximately 400 people lose their sight to firework mishaps and 20,000 accidental fires are started by these powerful rockets. Death rates are fairly low but the injuries, which include second and third-degree burns, are high and peak in the month surrounding 4th of July.

That’s why June is National Firework Safety Month. (created by National Council on Fireworks Safety) There are state laws on firework usage and many of these go unheeded. The idea behind National Firework Safety Month is to teach safe, responsible usage of consumer fireworks. The injuries can be prevented very easily.

CBS has a list of safety tips, including:

• Usage of legal fireworks only (<50mg of explosive powder)
• Shoot fireworks outdoors only
• Do not use metal or glass containers
• Do not reignite fireworks that malfunction

Motivators has a page devoted to National Fireworks Safety Month. Many of them are perfect for using on Memorial Day (coming soon) and Fourth of July. It will raise awareness of how dangerous fireworks can be if not educated on how to use them and will liken people to your brand.

Did you know that at one point in history, there was a separate day for each of the branches of our US military? There was a day for the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force.

With Harry S. Truman and Secretary of Defense (circa 1949) Louis Armstrong, Armed Forces Day was born. This day was established to replace the separate days from before while keeping the original objective of the established days: an official day for citizens to thank those currently or formerly in the military and the service they provide everyday. We continue to celebrate this day on the third Saturday in May, with 2013′s Armed Forces Day falling on May 18.

What’s the best way to thank them? One way is with military gifts. These gifts can have infantry details imprinted on each product or even a company name for showing your support and raising awareness of branches of military and your brand. Motivators is a great place to start – they even have pages for each branch of the military.

I admit that the title for this post may be misleading. My last few posts talked about the patriotism of Memorial Day, the plight of pets not adopted during National Pet Month and how important Mother’s Day truly is to a mother. So why discuss something trivial in comparison?

The truth is that music festivals are synonymous with summer and (unfortunately) large amounts of waste and trash. It’s expected when thousands upon thousands of people come together and are expected to live in cars, tents and RV’s for several days at a time.

Many festivals have green initiatives in hopes to get concertgoers to think ahead on how to help create less of an impact. Bonnaroo, the recipient of the coveted “Outstanding Greener Festival Award”, prints t-shirts on organic cotton and hemp shirts, prints all commemorative festival posters on tree-free paper and even a contest which includes awards such as “Greenest Concert Attendee” and “Greenest Campsite”. When I purchased my tickets to this year’s Firefly Music Festival I was given the option to purchase a commuter bus ticket from NYC (provided by the festival) and even a carbon offset voucher.

The true way to cut down on the waste expected at these type of festivals is reminding those in attendance ahead of time. Although e-mails work greatly, nothing works better than some of Motivators’ custom eco-friendly products. For companies on smaller budgets, there are first-aid kits for those accidental bumps and scratches, (great for those failed attempts at crowd-surfing or setting up the tent) eco-friendly drinkware (for keeping nourished between sets) and games/toys for killing time before the headliner. Companies with more marketing money may find that our lanterns, clocks or electronics are the best way to promote eco-awareness while providing something useful for the campsite. Many of these items listed above are made of Earth-friendly materials and are powered by a hand crank, water or the sun.

If you’re attending a music festival, be sure to think ahead with some ways to cut down on campsite waste. If you’re a company in the market for eco-friendly swag to hand out, be sure to get consent from the festival first and then give Motivators a call.

Memorial Day is well over a month from now but there is no day like the present to celebrate being a citizen of a country as fine as the United States.

America’s history in its 230+ year has more peaks and valleys than most countries have over the course of a thousand years. Despite the good times and the hardships Americans may face on a daily basis, we keep our head held high knowing that this country is one of the few to exercise the simple freedoms of free thought, free speech and self-expression.

Whether you’re trying to invoke patriotic feelings on Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day (both days in May) or as a result of heinous and desperate acts against the nation, a product with our nation’s flag is only a click away.

Spread the word on how wonderful it is to be an American today with a Memorial Day-themed product. Be sure to circle May 27 on your calendar.

We spoil and nurture our pets every day. They show us unwavering love and in return we show them the same. But did you know that there is an entire month devoted to our pets?

National Pet Month takes place every May with month-long celebrations for pet care professionals and the important work they do. The objective of this awareness month is to also increase pet adoptions by raising awareness of the benefits a pet can bring to a household (decreased stress, signs of humility, etc.) and raise awareness on the importance of companion animals.

Pet product giveaways are going to be huge. Think of the households that have 1, 2 or even 3 pets and you’ll realize quickly that these impressions can add up. Pet brushes, travel bowls, treats and leashes make up only some of the branding possibilities.