Memorial Day weekend can be one of the least safe times of the year thanks to people driving under the influence of alcohol, but that doesn’t mean you can’t protect your health and have a good time. Staying healthy and safe during Memorial Day may require careful planning beforehand. Now is a great time to think about how you’ll stay safe and healthy this upcoming holiday weekend.
1. Have a Designated Driver
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, operating a motor vehicle with a BAC (also known as “blood alcohol content”) that meets or exceeds 0.08% is considered driving while under the influence of alcohol. While the consequences for doing this vary by state, it is considered illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or other substances that have been outlined in U.S. criminal laws. Even if you don’t end up getting into a car accident or causing other harm, if law enforcement officers pull you over and discover that your blood alcohol content meets or exceeds the legal limit, you could still be in big trouble.
Rather than taking the risk and attempting to drive after a few drinks, you should let someone in your group be the designated driver. A designated driver is someone who abstains from alcohol during the evening out so they are safe to drive people home. If you don’t have a designated driver, you can either call a cab, use a ride-share service, take public transit home, or sleep at a friend’s house within walking distance of where you are drinking. Although it might not be ideal to take a ride-share service home after a night out, it’s safer than risking your safety.
2. Remember to Wear Sunscreen
Although you might want to use Memorial Day weekend as an opportunity to develop a rich tan to kick off the summer, you should still protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Whether you have a light or dark skin tone, you should lather up the sunscreen to prevent sunburn and skin cancer. Additionally, sunscreen can help slow signs of aging that are related to sun exposure so it can help you maintain a youthful glow.
3. Carry Hand Sanitizer
With food and equipment being passed around a campground on Memorial Day, you won’t want to get caught without hand sanitizer. If you’re going out into the woods for the weekend, you’ll want to take some products to keep your hands clean even if you don’t have access to water and soap while you’re there. According to Enviro USA, bacteria can grow on a surface that is sanitized by as much as 31% daily. As a result, you should be careful to sanitize spaces even if you’ve already cleaned them recently.
If you don’t like to use hand sanitizer because of the smell, you can try to find a scented hand sanitizer. For those who worry that using hand sanitizer will dry out their hands, bringing lotion can help mitigate the drying effects.
4. Practice Food Safety
For those who are going to cookouts or picnics over Memorial Day weekend, food safety is important. Make sure to bring coolers and ice for food that needs to be chilled and avoid using food at room temperature that’s been out for too long. For example, meat should be used within two hours of being set out. Additionally, if food smells off or seems to have been sitting in the sun for too long, you shouldn’t risk food poisoning.
Memorial Day is the unofficial kick-off day of summer, and with it comes the need to stay safe while you’re having fun. Follow our tips above to enjoy the sun without having to worry about your well-being.
