Feb 21, 2024

The Memorial Day Safety Guide

The Memorial Day Safety Guide - John Morgan with USA flag and beer

Memorial Day rapidly approaching has us dreaming of long summer days spent with our friends and family. To keep you and your loved ones safe, ​​we’ve created a Memorial Day safety guide.

We’ve covered everything under the sun from road trips to being out on the water to grilling fresh meals. We hope you’re able to make the most of the long weekend while keeping things safe.

Driving Safety

  • Be sure to practice safe driving Memorial Day Weekend. The number of traffic fatalities is 14.1% higher during Memorial Day Weekend than it is a non-holiday weekend
  • Memorial Day marks the beginning of the 100 deadliest days for teen drivers. The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is when the number of crashes and fatalities involving teen drivers increases by 16%.
  • Be on the lookout for motorcycles. Left hand turns account for 42% of crashes between cars and motorcycles
  • Across the country, golf cart accidents are on the rise. A little over 38% of all reported injuries are caused by falling from a golf cart.

Water Safety

  • Don’t drink and swim. Alcohol has been found to be a factor in as many as 70% of all water recreation injuries and deaths.
  • Use barriers to prevent easy access to water. In 69% of drownings that involve young children, they were not expected to be in or at the pool.
  • Always check conditions before entering the water at the beach. Rip currents are not always visible from shore and are responsible for most rescues performed by lifeguards.
  • Florida has recently surpassed 1 million registered recreational vessels, living up to the unofficial title of the “Boating Capital of the World.” Unfortunately, the state also leads the nation with the highest number of recreational boating accidents.

Grilling Safety

  • There’s no better way to cap off a summer day spent outside than a tasty meal cooked on the grill. Summer is also the time to be more aware of grill safety as over half of grill fires occur during the months of May, June, July, and August.
  • Keep children at least three feet away from the grill at all times. Children under 5 account for an average of 39% of grill-related burns each year.
  • Charcoal is the safer way to go. Gas grills are the leading cause of grilling incidents, responsible for 84% of home fires caused by grills.
  • Don’t spoil all of your hard work. Food needs to be placed in the freezer or fridge within two hours of cooking or one hour if it’s over 90°F outside. 

Want to learn more? Find out all the ways Morgan & Morgan can help if your summer activities hit a snag.

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