Remembering the Purpose of Memorial Day and Staying Safe

As we kick off the first unofficial weekend of summer with barbecues, trips to the beach or long weekends at the lake, let us not forget it’s not just a time for fun. Remembering the purpose of this national holiday is important to our generation and generations to come. We hope you take some time to remember and honor those who died while serving our country and fighting for our freedom.

The past year has been unprecedented, and people are expected to be traveling more now than in previous years. That puts safety as a number one concern. Here are some Safety Tips to consider when celebrating the long weekend:

Water Safety

National Safe Boating Week coincides with Memorial Day Weekend as a lot of people are expected to hit the waterways.  Even if you do not plan to be on a boat, there are some standard Memorial Day Safety Tips to keep in mind, in order to avoid a tragic accident:

• Wear a US Coast Guard approved life jacket that fits properly whenever you are on a boat.
• Avoid alcohol when swimming, boating or tubing.
• Designate an adult watcher/lifeguard to keep an eye on children in pools, at the beach, rivers or even hot tubs.
• Never swim alone and try to stay within eyesight of a lifeguard station.
• Do not go swimming, tubing or boating after sunset.

Grill/Fire Safety

Emergency care centers see their share of burn victims because of unsafe grilling or bonfire practices. If your weekend plans include grilling or sitting near an open fire, please keep these Memorial Day Safety Tips in mind:

• Never leave a grill or fire unattended, be mindful of the wind and extinguish all fires completely.
• Do not grill indoors, keep grills, bonfires and fire pits away from low hanging branches and materials that can easily catch fire.
• Make sure your grill is properly cleaned before using it, clogged gas burners, and leftover grease can cause a fire to spiral out of control within seconds.
• When grilling, use the long handle utensils made especially for barbequing and keep an extinguisher nearby.
• Never add starter fuel to already ignited charcoal & ALWAYS keep children and pets away from the grill and fire pit.

Safe Sun Exposure

This time of year is already very hot here in the south.  An important Memorial Day Safety Tip is to protect yourself and your family members from extended sun exposure to avoid sunburns or a heat stroke.

• Wear SFP 15 or higher sunscreen, apply it 30 minutes before exposure and reapply every 2 hours.
• Use sunglasses and a hat to protect your eyes and always drink plenty of water while celebrating outdoors.
• If you or a family member feels faint or nauseous, move them to a cool place immediately, if necessary apply cold compresses to the back of their neck and forehead to help lower their body temperature.
• If you have children, schedule their outdoor activities in the early morning or late afternoon, do not leave them unsupervised on a hot day.

Travel Safely

This is one the busiest and dangerous travel weekends of the year, follow these Memorial Day Safety Tips to ensure your family’s safety:

• Always wear seat belts and make sure child car seats are properly installed.
• Have your car serviced before a long trip.
• Plan your trip beforehand and give yourself extra travel time.
• Never drink and drive or allow yourself or anyone else to get into a car with someone who has been drinking.