Learn From Tom: Memorial Day Backyard Safety Checklist

Quick Answer: What should I check before hosting a Memorial Day backyard gathering?

Before your guests arrive, walk your yard and check three things: electrical connections (especially extension cords running to lights, speakers, or outdoor appliances), anchoring on any canopies or inflatables, and your knife and food prep station setup. Catching these early means you spend the holiday enjoying family — not dealing with avoidable problems.

Tom's Real-World Advice

I've hosted more Memorial Day cookouts than I can count. And I'll tell you — the ones that went sideways weren't because of bad food or bad weather. They were because somebody didn't check the basics before the first guest pulled in the driveway.

Memorial Day is the unofficial kickoff to summer. That means extension cords running across wet grass to the speaker. Canopy tents staked into soft spring ground. Knives pulled out of a drawer where they've been rattling around all winter. It's a lot happening at once, and it's easy to skip the walkthrough when you're busy marinating ribs and blowing up the kiddie pool.

So here's what I do every year, in order, before anyone shows up.

Step 1: Walk Every Extension Cord Connection

If you're running power to string lights, a speaker, a fan, or an outdoor TV, every connection point is a potential problem — especially after a spring rain. Exposed plugs sitting in damp grass can trip a breaker at best, and create a real hazard at worst. I use CordSafe® on every outdoor connection. It's a weatherproof cover that locks over the plug junction and keeps moisture out completely. Takes about 10 seconds per connection. I've been using them for years and I won't run an outdoor event without them.

Check your extension cord gauge too. For anything drawing real power — a griddle, a portable heater, a sound system — you want 12 AWG minimum. Undersized cords overheat. That's not a Memorial Day problem you want.

Step 2: Stake Everything That Can Move

Pop-up canopies are the number one backyard hazard nobody talks about. A 10x10 canopy acts like a sail in a 20 mph gust. If it's not properly anchored, it becomes a projectile. I use AnchorStake® ground anchors — they're 11.5 inches of heavy-duty ABS plastic that go into the ground without a mallet and hold in soft spring soil far better than the cheap stakes that come with most canopy kits.

Same goes for any yard games, banners, or decorations on stakes. Check them all. Soft ground after spring rain means things that felt secure yesterday may have shifted overnight.

Step 3: Set Up Your Food Prep Station Right

This one gets overlooked because people think food safety is about temperature, not tools. But a dull knife that slips, or a blade stored loose in a drawer that cuts someone reaching for a spatula — those are real Memorial Day ER visits.

I keep my knives in Blade Guards® year-round. Each blade has its own protective cover — hinged, locking, BPA-free, Made in USA. When I pull them out for a cookout, every blade is protected until the moment I need it. And when prep is done, they go right back in. No loose blades on a crowded prep table with kids running around.

For washing vegetables — corn, tomatoes, peppers, whatever's coming off the grill — I use the Flex Strainer®. It's a 2-in-1 sink strainer and colander that fits any standard 3.5" drain. Rinse everything in one pass, no separate colander to wash. Small thing, but when you're prepping for 20 people it matters.

Memorial Day Prep Station Interior Image

Step 4: Check Your Lighting

If your gathering runs past sunset — and Memorial Day gatherings always do — make sure your perimeter lighting is working. Motion security lights on the driveway, walkway, and back gate mean guests aren't navigating dark paths after dark. IQ America's battery-operated motion flood lights are my go-to for temporary setups. No wiring, mounts in minutes, 800 lumens of coverage. Set them up the morning of, take them down the next day.

Tom's Pro Tips: Don't Get Caught Without Propane

Nothing kills a Memorial Day cookout faster than running out of propane at 2pm on a holiday weekend. Every propane dealer in town is slammed, and you're standing there with a cold grill and hungry guests.

Fill your tank the week before. Not the day before — the week before. This year especially, supply and demand on holiday weekends means longer waits and sometimes short supply at the popular fill stations.

And here's a simple hack most people don't think about: put your propane tank in a milk crate when you're transporting it. A standard propane tank rolling around the back of your SUV or truck bed is a hazard — it shifts, it tips, it bangs into everything. Drop it in a CrateMate® heavy-duty milk crate and it sits upright, stable, and secure the whole trip. Money well spent — and when you get home, that same crate stores your outdoor supplies, your grill tools, your extension cords, whatever you need. One purchase, a hundred uses.

Memorial Day Safety Checklist — Tom's Quick Reference

Run through this the morning of your event:

☐ All outdoor extension cord connections covered with CordSafe®
☐ Extension cord gauges appropriate for load (12 AWG for appliances)
☐ Canopy anchored with AnchorStake® at all four corners
☐ Yard decorations and banners checked and re-staked if needed
☐ Knives stored in Blade Guards® until needed
☐ Food prep area clear of loose blades and clutter
☐ Vegetables washed with Flex Strainer®
☐ Motion security lights positioned on walkways and driveway
☐ Propane tank filled (do it this week, not the day before)
☐ Propane transported in a CrateMate® milk crate
☐ First aid kit located and accessible
☐ Fire extinguisher near the grill

Why Memorial Day Is Worth Getting Right

Memorial Day isn't just the start of summer. It's the first big gathering of the year — the one where you set the tone for every cookout, camping trip, and backyard party through Labor Day. Getting the setup right means your guests remember the food, the family, and the fun. Not the canopy that blew over or the extension cord that tripped the breaker right when the game was on.

Tom's rule: spend 20 minutes on the walkthrough so you can spend the rest of the day enjoying it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use CordSafe® with a heavy-duty outdoor extension cord?

Yes — CordSafe® fits extension cords from 12 to 18 AWG and is designed specifically for outdoor use. It's weatherproof, reusable, and Made in USA.

How deep do AnchorStake® ground anchors go?

AnchorStake® is 11.5 inches long and designed to penetrate soft to medium-density soil without tools. For very hard ground, a small amount of water around the insertion point helps.

Are Blade Guards® dishwasher safe?

Blade Guards® are BPA-free and can be hand-washed easily. The hard plastic guards are generally top-rack dishwasher safe.

What size drain does the Flex Strainer® fit?

Flex Strainer® fits all standard 3.5" kitchen sink drains and disposals. The flexible rim creates a seal in both strainer and stopper modes.

How many lumens do I need for backyard perimeter lighting?

For walkways and driveways, 400-800 lumens per fixture is sufficient. IQ America's battery motion flood light delivers 800 lumens — enough to clearly illuminate a 35-foot detection zone.

Explore more from Learn From Tom: Visit the Learn From Tom Hub | More Memorial Day Articles

Tom's Seasonal Note

Memorial Day through Labor Day is Tom's favorite stretch of the year. Baseball tournaments, lake weekends, family reunions, Fourth of July cookouts, camping trips — it all starts here. Every article in Tom's summer series is built around making those moments safer, smarter, and more enjoyable for American families.

Next up: Tom's Memorial Day Camping & RV Setup Guide.

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