Thanksgiving is a time for good food, gratitude, and gathering with the people who matter the most – but it can also be a time when accidents sneak up when you least expect them. From safely handling and cooking the perfect turkey to navigating busy roads or cozying up with your friends and family by the fire, a bit of caution and planning can make all the difference when it comes to keeping the holiday safe. Before diving into this year’s festivities, here are a few simple but important tips to help keep your Thanksgiving memorable for all the right reasons. 

Recommendations for Handling Food Safely

No matter if your family cooks a traditional Thanksgiving meal or puts their own unique spin on things, there are some general rules to follow when it comes to safely handling, preparing, and storing food. Here are some useful tips you can refer to from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC:

• Store frozen turkey in the freezer until you are ready to thaw it. You can thaw your turkey in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. Do not leave it out at room temperature to thaw.
• Wash your hands and surfaces often! Be sure to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm or cold water before, during, and after you prepare food or before eating. Wash utensils, cutting boards, and countertops with hot, soapy water after preparing each individual food item.
• Avoid cross-contaminating foods. Items like raw meat, chicken, and other poultry, seafood, and eggs can spread germs to prepared foods unless you separate them. Keep foods separate in the refrigerator and in sealed containers or wrapped securely to prevent juices from leaking. Use one cutting board or plate to handle any raw meat, poultry, and seafood, and a separate cutting board or plate to handle items like produce, bread, and any other foods that you will not be cooking.
• To make sure you are cooking food to the correct temperature, use a food thermometer. If you are using a microwave to cook your food, check your microwave’s wattage. If it is high wattage, use the minimum cooking time recommended in the owner’s manual; if it is low wattage, use the manufacturer’s maximum recommended cooking time.
• Refrigerate food promptly. Bacteria can multiply rapidly at room temperature or in the “Danger Zone” of 40 to 140 degrees. Never leave food out for more than two hours (or one hour if it has been exposed to temperatures higher than 90 degrees).

Fire Safety

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with more than three times the daily normal average for such types of events. One of the top causes behind home cooking fires is unattended cooking. To prevent going through an avoidable, scary, and potentially even deadly cooking-related fire, please observe the NFPA’s following tips:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top to keep an eye on the food!
• Stay in the home when cooking a turkey (or anything else in the oven), and be sure to check on it frequently.
• Keep children at least three feet away from the stove at all times. Turn pot and pan handles inwards and, if possible, put food on back burners to even further avoid children from making accidental contact. 
• Keep children away from hot foods and liquids. The steam or splash from coffee, vegetables, and gravy can cause serious burn injuries.
• Keep knives out of reach of children.
• Another thing to look out for is that electric cords (like cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer, or mixer) are not dangling off the counter and within easy reach of children.
• Keep all matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — this means up high and away in a secured or locked cabinet.
• Never leave children alone in a room with a lit candle or fire.
• Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over toys, pocketbooks, bags, or other items.
• Make sure all smoke alarms in your home are in proper working order. You can test them by pushing the test button. If a smoke alarm needs new batteries, replace them immediately.

To read more of the NFPA’s Thanksgiving fire safety tips, you can visit: https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety/thanksgiving. 

Travel Safety Tips

As we know, the holiday season is a wonderful time — but it can be a bit hectic, too. Traveling during the Thanksgiving holiday can be especially tricky because there are so many people on the road trying their best to get to their respective destinations on time. Around this time, there tends to be an increase in driving behaviors that are not only illegal but also dangerous. This includes distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, speeding, aggressive driving, and much more. 

The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that more than 500 Americans may die on U.S. roads this Thanksgiving. During the period from 6:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving until 11:59 p.m. on the Sunday that follows, please exert extra caution when traveling in a motor vehicle. Here are some of the NSC’s tips:

• Always wear your seat belt and make sure that everyone else in the vehicle is buckled up, too.
• If traveling with little ones, make sure that they are safely and properly secured in their (appropriately sized based on height and weight) booster or car seats.
• Plan for your trip ahead of time. It is a good idea to head out early so you can avoid getting stuck in traffic or encountering other preventable stressors.
• Drowsy driving is extremely dangerous, so be sure to get a good night’s rest before your trip. If you feel fatigued, wait to drive until you are more well-rested.
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Designate a sober driver, use a rideshare service, or take public transportation to get home safely.
• Brush up on defensive driving tactics.
• Avoid all distractions when behind the wheel. Put your cell phone away and steer clear of all other distractions, such as eating, drinking, fiddling with music or navigation, and any other activity that takes your attention away from the road and maneuvering your vehicle.
• Stock your vehicle with an emergency preparedness kit.
• Be prepared to encounter inclement weather.
• Make sure your gas tank is full and that you are stocked up on window washer fluid, a spare tire, and other items that can come in handy in an emergency.

Our entire team at Galfand Berger wishes you and your loved ones a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

Contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.