LOS ANGELES, May 23, 2020 — Memorial Day weekend traditionally means taking a road trip, enjoying family barbecues or that first dip in the ocean or pool. But this year will be different due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region, offers safety tips you can follow.

As Los Angeles County begins to reopen, know what precautions to take in public setting.

• Keep at least 6 feet between yourself and others.
• Wear cloth face coverings, especially in crowded areas. Do not place them on children under age 2.
• Limit your risk by reducing the number of places you go and your exposure to other people.
• Order food and other items for home delivery or curbside pickup, if possible.
• Visit the grocery store and other stores in person only when necessary.
• Stay at home if you are sick.

WATER SAFETY Many public pools and beaches may be closed. Follow the guidance of state and local officials. Make sure the area is designated for swimming. Once there, maintain social distancing, both in and out of the water, between you and people who don’t live with you. If you don’t think your child can do this, come up with another activity.

• Wear face coverings on land, but not in the water as it may be difficult to breathe.
• Don’t share goggles, nose clips, snorkels or other personal items.
• An inflatable pool can be a great way to have fun, but be sure to provide constant supervision to children in and around the water.
• Take the new Red Cross free Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers online course which focuses on the risks of drowning and how to minimize those risks, especially for young children.

GRILLING SAFETY Summer is a popular time for grilling family meals at home. Yet grilling fires spark more than 10,000 home fires on average each year. To avoid this:

• Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
• Never grill indoors—not in the house, camper, tent or any enclosed area.
• Make sure everyone, including children and pets, stays away from the grill.
• Keep the grill away from the house or anything that could catch fire.
• Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill.

HELP SAVE LIVES THIS SUMMER Give blood, platelets or plasma—we’re all in this together! Visit redcrossblood.org for more information or to schedule your donation.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES The Red Cross has several resources to help you prevent and respond to summer emergencies.

• Learn how to save a life with the Red Cross First Aid App and training courses.
• Receive customized weather alerts and warnings with our Emergency App.
• Download our Swim App and visit our new Water Safety for Kids site for videos, activities and quizzes.
• Enable the Red Cross skills on Amazon Alexa-enabled devices for valuable first aid information, to schedule a blood donation, receive warnings about an approaching hurricane or make a financial donation to the Red Cross.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA.