During Memorial Day, please take some time to celebrate and honor our nation’s fallen heroes with family and friends. While enjoying the weekend’s festivities keep the following safety tips in mind to ensure the holiday stays fun:
Grilling
Make sure meat is sufficiently cooked in order to prevent food poisoning – up to 48 million Americans each year suffer from food poisoning according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Using a meat thermometer can ensure that your meat is not dangerously undercooked, as color is not always a good indicator of doneness.
Moreover, grills can be dangerous objects for young children to be around. The extreme temperatures and often sharp edges pose a risk of harm to our little ones. Make sure you maintain a three-foot radius around the grill that is a kid-free zone. Additionally, keeping the grill clean of grease and cobwebs (which can ignite) can also reduce the risk of grilling incidents.
Travel
Memorial Day brings with it an increase in vehicles on the road and, therefore, a higher likelihood of traffic collisions. About 400 fatalities occurred during the Memorial Day weekends of both 2015 and 2016, so driving safely is imperative on Memorial Day weekend in order to minimize the chances of those numbers repeating again in 2017.
Pools
Lounging by the pool and swimming is one of the most popular activities among families during Memorial Day weekend. Let’s keep this a safe and pleasurable event. Know the depth of the water before diving in as spinal injuries can result in paralysis or even death. A designated “pool-watcher” can help ensure that kids stay safe when swimming and that Memorial Day stays fun for all.
Kershaw Talley Barlow wishes everyone a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend. If, in the unfortunate event that you or a loved one suffer harm or injury resulting from the fault of another that didn’t abide by our community safety rules, please contact our office.