It is that time of year when the weather is beautiful and a holiday is upon us. Memorial Day is a great time for family and friends to get together to celebrate being the freedoms we can enjoy thanks to the sacrifices of others. The Hoffman Agency wants everyone to be safe this Memorial Day, so we are offering some tips to make your holiday safer. Whether you are going on a short trip or just cooking out remember to follow these tips.

Traffic is likely to be heavy as people rush to get away and have some fun. Knowing where you’re going, and having someone to help with directions, can make the trip even more fun. GPSs are great, but if you are driving and trying to look at a GPS or directions you can easily be distracted from what is happening on the road. It is always better to pull over to review directions or figure that GPS system while sitting still. Remember you have to watch yourself as well as keeping an eye out for others on the road.

I know that having a cell phone keeps you in touch with others, but if you are driving it is definitely a distraction especially if you have to look for it to answer it. There have been many wrecks some with fatalities that can be attributed to someone driving and looking away for a cell phone. Again, you want to pull over to use your cell phone so that you can concentrate on the call. Then when getting back on the road you can concentrate on the traffic and driving conditions.

Check to see if there are any road construction issues so that you can be prepared to navigate these safely to help make your trip much more enjoyable. Always wear your seat belt and have others riding with you wear theirs. Accidents do happen and being as safe as you can by using your seatbelts can certainly help if one does occur.

Can’t you smell the ribs and chicken cooking over hot coals? The smell of that delicious barbecue is enough to start your mouth watering. Don’t forget the deviled eggs and potato salad. This is what a lot of the holidays are about for a lot of folks out there. To stay safe, healthy and happy remember to keep things at a temperature that prevents growth of bacteria that causes illness will ensure that everyone stays well. Meats should stay above a certain temp depending on the type, and crèmes, salads, and the like should stay below a certain point. Nobody wants a dose of food poisoning when they have had such a wonderful time.

The Memorial Day safety tips from the Hoffman Agency listed here are just a few of those to be aware of to help keep everyone safe and happy. You can find lots of tips to make your holiday safer for all concerned. We want to wish you a safe and happy Memorial Day. We would also like to thank all the men and women who have served and are serving our country keeping us safe and free.