Top 4 disastrous East Coast family reunion mistakes

 Summer is the quintessential time to kick back and relax with the people you love, which is probably why so many of us are busy planning family reunions this time of year! In your haste to meet your cousin’s new wife or reconnect with your beloved grandma, you may forget how important it is to find a location that accommodates everyone from Great-Aunt Margaret to your infant nephew. As families grow bigger, logistics also become more complicated. You need to ensure that no unfortunate surprises ruin your joyous gathering. At Paul Davis Restoration of Baltimore and the Delaware Valley, your family’s safety is our number one priority. We’ve put together a list of the top four disastrous family reunion scenarios—including heat waves and picnicking misadventures—and how to plan ahead, just in case!

Dangers out and about:

1. There’s nothing better than spending a beautiful day outside with those you love! But as residents of the Philly and Baltimore metro areas know, heat waves can quickly turn any outdoor activity into a dangerous one. Your reunion’s guests could be at risk for dehydration and potentially fatal heat strokes if you try to enjoy the beautiful outdoors during a heat wave. Instead, move the party to an indoor location that’s air conditioned to keep your family members safe.
2. Picture this: Your entire family settles down into a leafy spot under an eastern white pine at your reunion picnic. The next day, everyone is covered with inflamed bumps and itching like crazy—that leafy spot was poison oak.  Carelessness in nature can lead to disasters more dangerous than this one, so if possible, scope out your reunion site ahead of time. Bring a field guide and identify any plants you’re unsure of; check the terrain for rockiness or holes someone could stumble in; and make sure there are no berries or plants that look edible that children could get into if left momentarily unsupervised. These quick precautions will mean a safer and happier party for everyone!

Dangers at home:

1. That same Northeastern heat wave that kept your reunion out of the park may prevent you from partying in your home, too.  Although its best to stay out of direct sunlight during a heat wave, congregating in an un-air conditioned home could cause overheating and heat strokes in your guests, particularly the elderly and very young. If there’s a heat wave underway and your house isn’t air conditioned, move the party to an air-conditioned facility. If you do have air conditioning, be sure to have your air ducts inspected and cleaned if they haven’t been serviced in a while. Your guests who have asthma and allergy sensitivities will thank you!
2. If you haven’t used your deck much this spring, make sure to give it a good inspection before hosting the family reunion on it. Otherwise, you may wind up with your rotting deck collapsing underneath your guests! Wood tends to rot in snowy and icy conditions, so even though it was a mild winter in throughout much of Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania, test your deck for warped or discolored wood, or soft spots that give under pressure. If you see any of these signs, call in a professional to replace the wood before your family gathers out back!

Paul Davis Restoration of Delaware Valley and Baltimore assists communities in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Carroll County (MD), Delaware County (PA), Baltimore County and New Castle County (DE) with water, fire, mold and storm damage clean up and repair.