Watch out for these common hazards over labor day weekend

As Labor Day represents the unofficial end of summer, many people take advantage of the weekend to travel, visit the beach or a lake, or hold a picnic or barbecue. However, the activities that you might partake in during the Labor Day weekend all come with their own risks of accidents and injuries. Here are some of the most common hazards that people face while enjoying the Labor Day holiday.

Swimming Accidents

Many people visit a beach or a lake or spend the Labor Day weekend by the pool. Unfortunately, this poses a risk of possible swimming accidents, such as diving accidents or drownings. Most swimming accidents occur at home pools, and usually involve children under the age of five.

Around backyard pools, many swimming accidents can be avoided by:

Having a self-locking fence around the pool to prevent young children from entering the pool without supervision
Always having at least one adult supervising young children playing in or around the pool
Covering all pool drains, pipes, and other openings
Avoiding alcohol consumption prior to or while swimming

Drunk Driving Accidents

Unfortunately, the Labor Day weekend has some of the highest rates of drunk driving accidents at any point in the year. Since many people go out to events, parties, picnics, or barbecues where they consume alcohol, drivers may make the unfortunate mistake of getting behind the wheel while still intoxicated.

Law enforcement agencies across the state and throughout the country tend to step up drunk driving enforcement efforts during the Labor Day weekend, including displaying signage reminding drivers not to drive while drunk, increasing officer patrols to look out for potential drunk drivers, and setting up DUI checkpoints at places where drunk drivers are likely to pass through.

Boating Accidents

While people may choose to get out on the water for Labor Day, carelessness or recklessness while on a boat or other watercraft can quickly prove dangerous or even deadly. Some of the most common causes of boating accidents include:

Speeding
Inexperience
Operator inattention
Not having proper lookouts
Mechanical failure
Operating a boat or watercraft under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Fires

Activities on Labor Day weekend can also pose risks of fires and explosions, including operating grills, lighting campfires or bonfires, or setting off fireworks. Any fire that is not properly monitored can quickly spread out of control. Tips to avoid dangerous or deadly fires over the Labor Day holiday include:

Always operate grills or light fires in open, outdoor, well-ventilated areas, as far away from buildings and structures as possible
Keep any flammable items, including lighter fluid, matches, wooden utensils, or paper plates and napkins, away from grills or other open flames
Never leave food unattended on a grill
Be prepared for a fire, including ensuring that smoke detectors in your home are functioning and that you have a charged fire extinguisher

Food Poisoning

Unfortunately, eating at barbecues or picnics comes with a possible risk of food-borne illness. Food safety tips when preparing or eating food at Labor Day parties include:

Always wash your hands after touching raw meat, using paper towels to dry your hands. Also remember to clean off any cutting boards or other surfaces that have had raw meat on them before placing other food products on them
Keep any meat refrigerated until you are ready to cook
Never leave food that requires refrigeration out in the sun. If at a picnic or barbecue, make sure that serving bowls are set on top of ice, ideally in the shade. Make sure to put food back in the refrigerator or cooler as soon as everyone has been served.

Contact a Clark Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Team Law represent clients injured in Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, and throughout New Jersey. Call (732) 540-1394 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 136 Central Ave., Clark, NJ 07066, as well as offices in West New York, Perth Amboy, Edison, Summit, Newark, New Brunswick, Orange, Plainfield, and Jersey City.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.