5 Helpful Tips for a Safe Labor Day Celebration

Labor Day was first celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City to commemorate the social and economic achievements of American workers. A few years later the first Monday of September was selected as the official day to pay tribute to the leadership, strong spirit, and freedom of the American workforce. Labor Day is celebrated across the country with parades, festivals, and family get-togethers.

Labor Day also signals the end of summer and usually includes outdoor activities like swimming in lakes, rivers or the ocean, hiking, playing sports, partying and backyard barbecuing. Check out these helpful tips that will allow you to stay safe while enjoying outdoor Labor Day festivities.

Top 5 Tips for a Safe Holiday Celebration:

1. Planning a road trip? It is a good idea to get enough sleep before the trip, especially if you are driving. Have your car checked by a professional technician to make sure you have a smooth ride. Having an emergency first aid kit is a good idea, keep it in your car trunk, both for long and short trips. Popular Mechanics magazine suggests adding dust masks with a N95 or a N100 rating to your ultimate survival kit, “which not only keeps dirt and debris away but can also filter airborne pathogens.”
2. Enjoy swimming in a natural water basin? Avoid areas where there are obvious sources of environmental pollution nearby. Remember that, unlike a swimming pool, a lake or a river may have hidden hazards: underwater rocks, uneven bottom, strong underwater currents, and pathogens in the water. Use caution when swimming in fresh warm water, especially in stagnant water that may have deadly parasites. Swimming in water that contains blue weeds may cause skin irritations. Taking a shower immediately after swimming should eliminate this kind of threat. For your own safety, it is always better to go swimming in supervised locations and to not enter the water alone to avoid accidents and drowning.
3. Can’t imagine a Labor Day without a barbecue? To minimize chances of fire, set your grill away from any buildings, use protective gloves and special long-handled tools for grilling, and have a fire extinguisher ready. Never leave your food in the sun for a long period of time to avoid foodborne diseases. Eat only freshly prepared meals, and refrigerate the leftovers immediately.
4. Love beach parties? To prevent sun burns use sunscreen with SPF 30+ and reapply it every 3-4 hours, wear a hat and high-quality sunglasses with the 99% UV-protection capability. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, and remember: alcohol and heat are a bad combination, as it increases the chances of dehydration, heat-related illnesses and serious accidents like trips, slips, and falls, and drowning when swimming under the influence.
5. Watching Labor Day fireworks is one of the most loved activities across the country. However, fireworks also create a fire danger - the reason why police and fire department crews are always on high alert during the fireworks season. Launching DIY fireworks is not a good idea because it increases a chance of accidents. It is much safer and more fun to attend well-organized community events that culminate in fireworks when all the safety measures are being taken care of by the organizers.

Do you need expert advice on personal protective equipment for your specific application? Give us a call at 800-829-9580, or visit us online at pksafety.com/.

Sources:

1. History of Labor Day
2. Swimming Illnesses and Hazards
3. 7 Safety Tips for an Injury-Free Labor Day
4. Safety Tips Help Ensure a Safe Labor Day Weekend
5. The Ultimate Survival Preparedness Kit for Your Car
6. The Danger of Swimming Under the Influence
7. What happens to your body when you drink alcohol and swim