Whether you stay home or travel over the Memorial Weekend, the Fire and Medical Department wants everyone to have a safe weekend. No matter what you have planned, please make safety a part of your weekend.
Traveling
DRIVE SAFELY With more people on the roads, it’s important to drive safely. Be well rested and alert, use your seat belts, observe speed limits and follow the rules of the road. If you plan on drinking alcohol, designate a driver who won’t drink.
- Give your full attention to the road. Avoid distractions such as cell phones.
- Use caution in work zones. There are lots of construction projects underway on the highways.
- Don’t follow other vehicles too closely.
- Make frequent stops.
- 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.
- Don’t overdrive your headlights.
- Don’t let your vehicle’s gas tank get too low. If you have car trouble, pull as far as possible off the highway.
- Carry a Disaster Supplies Kit in your trunk.
The American Red Cross offer an app for smartphones. The Red Cross app “Emergency” can help keep you and your loved ones safe by putting vital information in your hand for more than 35 different severe weather and emergency alerts. You can find it in smartphone app stores by searching for American Red Cross or going to www.redcross.org/apps. - Let someone know where you are going, your route and when you expect to get there. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.
Grilling and Fire Safety
Grills and smokers, while creating delicious cookout fare, have a great potential for danger. It is very important that a lit or hot grill is never left unattended; a responsible adult should stand guard as “grillmaster” to control flames and keep children and animals away from hot surfaces. Before your first grill of the year and often during grilling season, make sure your grill ready for the job. Keep it clean of grease, inspect propane fuel lines, and position your grill away from structures, trees and high-traffic walkways. You should also take any precautions in case a flare-up or fire were to occur; keep an extinguisher nearby and make sure to know how to cut off fuel lines if you are using propane.
See our Cooking and Grilling Safety Tips page for more safety ideas while cooking this holiday weekend: Cooking and Grilling Safety Tips
Did you know that grilling on apartment balconies is prohibited in the City of Lawrence?
The Lawrence City Commission adopted the 2012 International Fire Code and local amendments with an effective date of July 1, 2013. The International Fire Code section 308.1.4 specifically states: "Charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of combustible construction."
Exceptions:
- One-and-two family dwellings.
- Where buildings, balconies and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system.
- LP-gas cooking devices having LP-gas container with a water capacity not greater than 2 1/2 pounds [nominal 1 pound (0.454 kg) LP-gas capacity].
- See our Fact Sheet – Grilling on Apartment Balconies (PDF).
Other Food Safety
Refrigerate all perishable food within 2 hours, 1 hour if the temperature outside is above 90 degrees. To guard against cross-contamination of bacteria, keep uncooked meats away from other foods. To avoid food poisoning, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture recommends cooking fresh poultry to 165 degrees, hamburgers to 160 degrees and beef to at least 145 degrees.
Sun Safety
If you spend time in the sun, be sun safe! Use sunscreen of an appropriate SPF and make sure to reapply as necessary, especially if you are swimming or sweating. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and to keep cool. And don’t forget your eyes – wear a hat and sunglasses!
Read more on our Summer / Heat Safety page: Summer / Heat Safety Tips
Boat and Water Safety
To prevent drowning, avoid alcohol when swimming or boating. Wear a lifejacket whenever you are on a boat. Make sure young children are supervised at all times when near the beach, on a boat, or by a pool or hot tub. Don't swim alone or in bad weather. Learn to swim and teach your children to swim. We also recommend that you learn CPR in case of an emergency.
For more water safety tips:
Sources: American Red Cross (www.redcross.org), American Safety Council (www.americansafety.com