Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations.

1. Even a quick trip to the grocery store can lead to a car crash. Buckle your seat belt and you will reduce your chance of serious injury in a crash by up to 50 percent, according to the state Click It or Ticket campaign.

2. Along the same theme as above, do not assume the air bags, now standard in most cars, will save you. The bags deploy at up to 200 mph and can seriously injure unbuckled passengers and drivers, according to the campaign.

3. Town Meeting voters approved funds for a new contract with the Milford firefighters union, which will give union members a 1 percent raise, retroactive for the current budget year, and another 1 percent raise on July 1. Union firefighters also will get a 1 percent raise in January 2012. 

4. A Milford company is participating in a state program that will allow high school students to shadow biotechnology professionals. Avecia is one of 19 companies in Massachusetts taking part in the job shadow day. The June 8 event allows students to learn more about the career options that exist within the life sciences and encourages them to consider further education. 

5. The senior class at Milford High School is enduring one of the last hurdles in their high school experience today. It is the final day of senior exams. Wish them well. Graduation is next week.