Memorial Day was created to honor American men
and women who died in military service. The focus on those who died sets it
apart from Veterans’ Day, which honors all military veterans, living and dead
What are your plans for Memorial Day?
Activities
A poll conducted by the Indiana County
News showed that people had the following Memorial Day plans:
- 39 percent – grill outside and enjoy a
day off
- 20 percent –
go to the cemetery to put flowers on their family's graves.
- 13 percent –
participate in, or attend, a Memorial Day service.
- 12 percent –
have no plans; it's just another day.
- 9 percent – have
to work.
- 9 percent –
have other plans.
Travel
AAA Travel projects 34.8 million
Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day
holiday weekend, a 0.9 percent decrease from the 35.1 million people who
traveled last year.
The decline in holiday travel is mainly
due to a decline in air travel of 8 percent, concerns about rising costs among
travelers, and a waffling economy.
Safety
All terrain vehicles
During the Memorial Day, the number of people
riding all terrain vehicles increases, and so do accidents, injuries, and
deaths.
Reports analyzed by the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission show that during the four days of the 2012 Memorial Day
weekend, there were at least 14 deaths and about 2,750 emergency room treated
injuries associated with ATV usage. That an average of four deaths and 700
injuries each day. Two of the 14 fatalities during that weekend involved
children under age 16.
ATVs continue to be the fourth most
deadly product the commission oversees, with more than 700 ATV-related deaths
per year.
For safety tips, see “Ride Safe, Stay
Alive: Data Show That Memorial Day Weekend Can be Tragic for Many ATV Riders”
and ATVSafety.gov.
Swimming
Memorial Day starts the summer season
for many, and adults and kids will be heading out for swimming fun.
Last year, 90 children younger than 15
were reported to have drowned in swimming pools from Memorial Day to mid-summer, according to the commission.
An additional 106 children that age
required emergency response for near-drowning incidents.
The figures show that young children
and toddlers are especially vulnerable to drowning because 72 percent of the
children reported to have drowned from Memorial Day to mid-summer last year were
younger than 5 years old.
Click here for safety tips when kids
are in or around water.
Sales
Memorial
Day bargains are available for those who like to shop.
See “Memorial Day Sales to Shop Now:
Spend the Holiday Doing What You Really Want” and “What to Expect From Memorial
Day Sales” for ideas.
Best wishes for your Memorial Day weekend celebrations. I
hope you have a fun and safe time.
