Memorial Day Weekend Safety Tips: Don’t Turn a Good Day Into a Bad Day!

According to the American Automobile Association, this year approximately 700,000 more people will travel this Memorial Day weekend compared to last year.

Whether you are traveling for the Memorial Day weekend or having a barbeque with family and friends, or even having a little “Stay-cation,” here at the Misdemeanor Clinic, we want you to keep it safe, so we’ve put together a few helpful tips so that your Memorial Day doesn’t turn into a “bad day.”

• Be safe with food: Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap before handling food and after handling raw poultry or meats – and make sure you keep that raw poultry and meat away from the rest of your food to avoid contamination. Cook food thoroughly and refrigerate all foods that can perish within two hours.

• Be safe around fire: Your grill should be thoroughly cleaned before use to remove any buildup of dust or grease. Routinely check for gas leaks and make sure you use your grill OUTSIDE, and not in an enclosed area such as a porch or a garage. If you’re having an outdoor bonfire or you have an outdoor fire pit, do not leave the fire unattended and make sure it is completely extinguished when you are done with your festivities. If your grass is dry, make sure no one parks their car on your grass as dry grass can easily ignite.

• Water safety: Never swim alone and make sure to always wear your life vest while boating. If you have small children, please make sure there is a set of adult eyes on them at all times, especially in or near the water.

• Sun safety: Stay hydrated! Temperatures can soar at this time of year. Make sunscreen a daily habit – the higher the SPF the better! Make sure you continue to apply your sunscreen generously throughout the day and wear a hat and sunglasses.

• Travel safety: Whatever you do, don’t drink and drive or get into a vehicle with anyone behind the wheel who has been drinking. Have a friend drive you home, call a taxi or call a car service such as Uber. It’s just not worth it. Make sure you wear your seatbelt at all times. If you are planning on a road trip, always make sure that your car has been properly serviced and that your tires are in good shape. Also, in case of an emergency, it’s always a good idea to know where the nearest emergency room is located.

One last mention: Memorial Day is all about paying our respects to those who have served our country and given so much in order for us all to the enjoy the freedom and liberty we have today. So whether you are enjoying a family barbeque or out boating with friends, please remember to pay tribute to our veterans.

Happy Memorial Day weekend from the Misdemeanor Clinic!