Red Cross Provides Tips for a Safe Memorial Day

[May 24, 2014]  CENTRAL ILLINOIS - Memorial Day is right around the corner, the first long holiday weekend of the summer. For many it may mean taking to the highway, opening up the backyard pool, or gathering friends together for a cookout. The American Red Cross would like everyone to enjoy a safe summer holiday, and offers some tips to help you and your loved ones have a great weekend.

If you are traveling…

• Buckle up, slow down, and don’t drive impaired. Designate a driver who won’t drink.

• Be well rested and alert; give your full attention to the road.
   
• Observe speed limits.
   
• Be respectful of other motorists; follow the rules of the road.
   
• Clean your vehicle’s lights and windows to help you see, especially at night.
   
• Turn your headlights on as dusk approaches, or during inclement weather.
   
• Carry a Disaster Supplies Kit in your trunk.
• Pay attention to the weather forecast for your destination.
   
• Download the Red Cross Tornado app and set the locations monitored to “current location”.
   
• Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive.

If you are opening the pool…

• Closely supervise children whenever they are near any body of water. Never leave a young child unattended near water, and do not trust a child’s life to another child.
   
• Avoid distractions when supervising children around water.
   
• Weak or inexperienced swimmers should wear U. S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets
   

• Keep lifesaving gear handy. Always have on hand a ring buoy, life jackets, rope, pole or other object that can be used to help a person in trouble.
   
•  Download the Red Cross First Aid app and have a first aid kit, phone and emergency numbers by the pool.

If you are grilling out…

• Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use and never add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
   
• Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, the deck, tree branches, or anything that could catch fire.
   
• Use long handled tool designed for grilling to help prevent burns.
   
• Make sure pets stay away from the grill.

For more Red Cross safety information, please visit arcillinois.org/tiplibrary .

[Text received; ERIN MILLER, AMERICAN RED CROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS REGION]