We spend a lot of time talking about safety on the job site. It’s what we do. But every summer, we’re reminded that safety doesn’t punch out when you do.
Just a few weeks ago, a 23-month-old girl tragically drowned in her family’s backyard pool in Galveston, Texas. Despite every effort by her caretaker and emergency responders, she didn’t make it. The story made headlines across local media as a heartbreaking example of how fast things can go wrong — even in familiar surroundings.
Source: Houston Chronicle
In another incident, a deck collapsed during a child’s birthday party in West Des Moines, Iowa, sending several guests tumbling and prompting a mass casualty response. The deck, which had been built with structural deficiencies, gave way under the weight of the attendees. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but the event serves as a stark reminder of the hidden hazards that can lurk in our own backyards.
Source: Local 12 News
These aren’t job site accidents. These are the moments when we exhale, unwind — and let our guard down. Because we’re finally home.
🔎 But Here’s the Thing: Safety Doesn’t Stop at the Worksite
We speak to people every day how to spot hazards, follow protocols, and speak up when something feels off. But what about your backyard? Your kitchen? Your family gathering?
Every year, summer brings new reminders that:
- The pool gate you forgot to lock could change everything.
- The grill you moved a little too close to the house might do more than cook dinner.
- The fireworks you thought you could handle might leave more than a memory.
Practical Reminders You Can Take Home
Here are a few simple ways to stay safe off the clock this summer:
Around the Pool, Pond, River, Lake, Beach
- Always assign a “water watcher” at gatherings — no phones allowed.
- Use self-latching gates and alarms on pool access points.
- Keep rescue gear and a charged phone nearby.
Around the Grill
- Clean grease and check propane lines before lighting up.
- Keep the grill at least 10 feet from your home or deck railings.
- Never leave the grill unattended. Not even for a second.
Around Fireworks
- Leave the heavy stuff to the pros.
- Always supervise teens and kids closely — no exceptions.
- Keep water or sand nearby for emergencies.
- No horse play.
Moving Safety from ⛑️Head to Heart♥️
At Youngstrom Safety, we’re not just speakers. We’re survivors of the consequences that follow when someone thinks “just this once…” is safe enough.
Our message has always been about building a culture of safety — for everyone, including the people waiting for you at home.
So this summer, bring your safety mindset with you.
- Carry it into the backyard.
- Pack it for the lake.
- Live it around the firepit.
Because safety isn’t just about staying safe — it’s about the life you get to live because of it.
Book us to Speak
We Provide In-Person and Virtual Speaking Presentations
We do safety presentations, anywhere in the country, for any shift, in any industry. Unlike others who share our passion for safety, we will not review regulations and best practices, although the choice not to follow them is at the heart of our message and the life we have led for the past 29 years. What we will do is paint an unvarnished picture of what the future holds for workers who choose ease or ego over safety.
In-Person
- 60min Presentation including Q&A
Virtual
- 60 min Presentation, including Q&A
When your team is spread across multiple locations or gathering them all at the same time is a challenge, Russ and Laurel can share their message virtually.
“The first time that I saw their presentation up in Michigan, it touched my heart in so many ways and at that time I remember thinking “everyone in construction, manufacturing, general industry and even small businesses should hear and see this presentation”. Nobody thinks it will happen to them. When you hear how one disastrous decision can change an entire family, their hopes and dreams, everything they were looking forward to, and hear how it can be shattered in a single moment, you realize that you have to change what you do. How you manage your workers. Russ and Laurel’s unflinching honesty and often times brutal descriptions of how one bad decision has changed their lives in so many ways, is something that every worker should hear. “
