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4 Tips for Avoiding Disaster This Memorial Day Weekend

Who’s ready for a three-day summer kickoff weekend? Ah, the sun, the parties, the blender drinks, the relaxation—also the salves, the ointments, the late-night burn wards, the full-body casts. Well, you get the picture. Amid all the many things to look forward to this Memorial Day, there are also some hidden dangers to avoid—ones that could be lurking in your very own backyard.

Don’t panic! Just follow a few simple tips to make sure your Memorial Day break doesn’t include a trip to the ER. Or a lot of tears.

Tip No. 1: Novelty water toys might not be your friends

Sure, these backyard staples may look like tons of fun, and they very often are. But if the advent of the internet has taught us anything, it’s that a running leap down a wet Slip’N Slide can end very badly. A homemade one can end up even worse, particularly if there are painful rocks underneath.

The backyard toy was recalled in 1993 after it was found that it had the “potential to result in neck injury and paralysis” in teenagers and adults, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Bummer. But there are several newer, slightly altered models still on the market.

Advice: Use with caution (and check for sharp or hard objects underneath before hurling yourself into the fray). Or you might just want to consider sitting this one out entirely. Just sayin’.

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Tip No. 2: Recreational drinking and lighter fluid are a lousy combo

Mix a respectable amount of backyard boozing (in honor of our noble service men and women, of course) with some fire, and the end result could be something akin to disaster. Trust us on this.

From 2009 to 2013, there were about 8,900 home fires caused by grills, hibachis, and barbecues, resulting in 10 deaths, 160 injuries, and $118 million in direct property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Advice: To avoid out-of-control conflagrations, take a few simple precautions. Use propane and charcoal grills outdoors only. Make sure to keep them far enough away from the home, so that even a sudden flare or gust of wind wouldn’t allow the flames to touch your place. Same goes with leaves and branches from nearby trees. Keep the grill clean and free of grease or fat buildup. And never leave it unattended. And if you’re grilling, maybe lay off the hard stuff for a bit?

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Tip No. 3: Learn pool safety 101

Who doesn’t love to splash around in a pool on a hot afternoon? The problem is that those same warm-weather attractions can turn deadly when children are left unattended.

About 355 children drowned in pools and spas in 2013, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. And the vast majority of those children were under the age of 5. This figure doesn’t include the roughly 5,600 kids under 15 who were brought into hospitals for pool- or spa-related injuries between 2013 and 2015.

Advice: Make sure pools are fenced off so small children can’t fall into them when parents are distracted, according to the agency. Keep kids far away from pool drains, pipes, and other places they could get trapped. Designate someone in charge of watching out for the little ones at all times, and make sure the smallest children are wearing life jackets, advises the Red Cross. And ensure someone present is trained in CPR.

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Tip No. 4: Protect the homestead

It’s tempting to tell the whole world that you’re going away somewhere glorious this weekend. Won’t the Pupkins next door be so jealous? Maybe. But all that bragging could make your home vulnerable to thieves.

Advice: Avoid posting too much about your upcoming getaway on social media. The wrong person could see it—and decide to make your empty property a target. Try to make it look like there’s someone home while you’re away. Have some lawn work done, or put your lights on a timer set for different times each night. You can even install motion-detecting lights on your property to deter thieves.

Now go and enjoy the holidays!

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