Summer Safety Begins with Memorial Day: Here’s Your Safe Summer Guide

By Dean I. Weitzman, Esq. on May 25th, 2018

As we begin another glorious summer season in the Philadelphia area on this Memorial Day holiday weekend, we here at MyPhillyLawyer want to remind everyone that good times with friends and family begin with safety and common sense.

One of the first things to remember is not to drink and drive as holiday weekends like this usually see a spike in drunk driving accidents, injuries and deaths. In 2016, the last year in which statistics are available, 10,497 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for 28 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the 1,233 traffic deaths among children ages 0 to 14 years in 2016, 214, or 17 percent, involved an alcohol-impaired driver. In 2016, more than 1 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

Local and state police departments typically hold special holiday drinking and driving checkpoints on area roads as they work to crack down on violators.

To prevent drinking and driving deaths and injuries, motorists should:

Plan a safe way home. Arrange a sober ride home or offer to be the sober designated driver.

Wear a seat belt. Seat belt usage is one of the best ways to stay safe on our roadways.

Don’t call or text while driving. Any form of impaired driving poses a serious threat to those on the road.

Slow down. Respect all posted speed limits.

Be aware. Pay attention to other drivers on the road and avoid those driving erratically.

But drinking and driving and other highway dangers aren’t the only risks this holiday weekend and throughout the summer. There are dangers and personal liability issues surrounding a wide variety of activities that everyone should keep in mind.

Cookout safety:

Even barbecue grills can cause injuries if they are used improperly or mixed with the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Improper equipment, poor safety rules, carelessness and other factors can cause injuries to adults and children who come near hot grills and outdoor cooking areas.

To prevent injuries and potential legal liability, be sure:

*If you’re using a propane gas grill, inspect your propane tank and hoses for leaks, dents, cracks or corrosion.

*Always light the match before turning on the propane gas.

*Never use your grill indoors or under any structures that may catch fire, such as patio covers.

*Never smoke cigarettes or use matches or lighters near the grill.

*If you’re using a charcoal grill, use water to make sure that coals are extinguished and be careful never to dispose of briquettes that are still hot.

*Avoid loose clothing while grilling, especially long sleeves.

*Parental supervision is essential—keep all children away from the grill.

And don’t forget about the potential dangers of food poisoning when dining outdoors in the heat of summer. Be extra careful to make sure that foods made with mayonnaise, including coleslaw and potato salad, are kept chilled and out of direct sunlight so they don’t spoil and cause illnesses to guests, and don’t leave uncooked meats out in the summer heat for long periods of time before that are cooked. Many a holiday has been ruined at private parties, restaurants and other facilities due to food that has spoiled and caused serious illnesses for guests, while raising serious legal claims that you certainly want to avoid.

Swimming pool safety:

Here are five key swimming pool safety tips for you to remember this holiday weekend:

*Completely fence the perimeter around your pool – by closing off the pool to children who could wander into your yard, you can prevent accidental drownings and protect yourself from liability.

*Be sure that all young children playing near pools are wearing life vests – if a child should accidentally fall into a pool, they will be better protected by wearing an approved life vest.

*Never, ever leave children unsupervised near a pool – that means NEVER. If children are to be around or in a pool, they MUST be properly and adequately supervised by an adult who can swim and is trained in rescue techniques.

*Always keep rescue equipment by the pool, including a life ring and rope, a first aid kit and flotation devices.

*Parents must be encouraged to learn CPR – by knowing how to save a life in the event of an emergency, homeowners can protect their guests and themselves before rescue workers ever arrive.

As a homeowner, you must be vigilant, pro-active and firm about setting safety rules and enforcing them so that guests and family members aren’t accidentally injured or worse.

Have Fun and Be Safe:

Remember this holiday weekend to enjoy yourself with friends and family, but also use caution to prevent tragedies and legal liability from accidents and injuries that can occur in a wide variety of ways.

We here at MyPhillyLawyer stand ready to assist you with your legal case if you or a loved one is ever seriously injured in any kind of vehicle incident anywhere in the United States. We pledge to make sure that you and your family get the compassionate, dogged and experienced legal representation that you deserve and expect from a professional legal team which works hard to uncover every fact to bolster your case and maximize your damage award.

We represent the families of victims who die in such tragedies as well, to ensure that their families receive every penny of damages that they are eligible to receive.

Call MyPhillyLawyer at 215-227-2727 or toll-free at 1-(866) 352-4572 anytime and our experienced, compassionate, aggressive team of attorneys and support staff will be there for you and your family every step of the way as we manage your case through the legal system.

When Winning Matters Most, Call MyPhillyLawyer.

 

Listen to Court Radio every Sunday at 7 a.m. with me, attorney Dean Weitzman of MyPhillyLawyer, on Philadelphia’s Old School 100.3 WRNB, Boom 103.9 or on Praise 107.9 WPPZ FM. Listen to Court Radio online or on the radio every week for the latest on legal topics and to get answers to your legal questions. In addition to addressing the topical issues of the day, we’ll answer caller questions on a wide range of legal issues.