Thanksgiving is coming up fast, so there is no better time than now for a quick refresher course on how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe as you celebrate. Last year, the American Automobile Association (AAA) estimated over 55 million Americans would be traveling 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving; this year, the number might be even higher. Whether your home is this year’s holiday destination or you plan on traveling elsewhere, we have compiled some helpful safety tips below.

Fire Safety at Home

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires. Such incidents happen more than three times the daily average during Thanksgiving, which is even more than Christmas Day and Christmas Eve (they rank second and third, respectively). Unattended cooking is the number one factor when it comes to residential fires and fire fatalities. According to the NFPA, cooking causes nearly two of every five home fire injuries, more than half of all reported home fires, and is the leading cause of home fire deaths (17%).

To prevent a cooking-related fire, follow a few simple steps, such as:

• Stay in the kitchen to keep an eye on cooking food. Never leave items unattended on the stovetop.
• No matter how long it takes, stay home while cooking your turkey. Check on it regularly.
• Keep children a minimum of three feet from the stove. Also, prevent them from having access to hot foods and liquids.
• Safely store all matches and utility lighters in the home.
• Keep floors clear of clutter.
• Never leave a child unattended in a room with a lit candle. Do not leave lit candles unattended or close to curtains, blinds, or other flammable items.
• Be sure that electric cords (like plate warmers, coffee makers, and electric knives) do not dangle off the counter and that you keep them out of reach of children.
• Make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working.

Tips for Handling Food Safely

There is no question that eating delicious food with friends and family is one of the best parts of Thanksgiving, but cooking is not the only part of the holiday that can be risky. Luckily, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has several recommendations for safe food handling. These include:

• Frozen turkey should be stored 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. You can read more about how to safely thaw, cook, and store your turkey at: https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/holiday-turkey.html.
• Wash your hands and surfaces often. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm or cold water before, during, and after preparing food and before eating. Wash your utensils, cutting boards, and countertops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item.
• Remember to separate and not cross-contaminate! Raw meat, chicken, and other poultry, seafood, and eggs can spread germs to ready-to-eat food unless you separate them. Keep foods separate in the refrigerator and in sealed containers or wrapped securely to prevent juices from leaking onto other foods. Use one cutting board or plate for raw meat, poultry, and seafood and a separate cutting board or plate for produce, bread, and other foods that you will not be cooking.
• Ensure that you cook food to the correct temperature by using a food thermometer. If you are using a microwave to cook food, make sure you know your microwave’s wattage. If it is high wattage, use the minimum cooking time recommended per the manual. If it is low wattage, use the maximum recommended cooking time.
• Refrigerate food promptly. Bacteria can multiply rapidly at room temperature or in the “Danger Zone” of 40 and 140 degrees Never leave food out for more than two hours (or one hour if exposed to temperatures over 90 degrees).

Travel Tips

The roads are especially hazardous during the holidays, and Thanksgiving is certainly no exception. Even if you are hosting this year’s festivities, you should anticipate some level – if only a quick trip to the grocery store – of travel. During the period from 6:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving until 11:59 p.m. on the Sunday that follows, be sure to be extra cautious when hitting the road.

Here are some travel-specific safety tips from the NSC, or National Safety Council:

• Wear your seat belt and make sure that everyone else in the vehicle is buckled up, too.
• If traveling with a little one, ensure they are safely and properly secured in their booster or car seat.
• To avoid getting stuck in traffic, plan for your trip ahead of time. Leave early.
• Drowsy driving is dangerous, so be sure to get a good night’s rest before your trip. If you feel fatigued, wait to drive until you are feeling better.
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. You can designate a sober driver or use a rideshare service to get home safely.
• Brush up on defensive driving tactics.
• Avoid all distractions. Put your cell phone away and steer clear of all other distractions like eating, drinking, fiddling with music or navigation, and more.
• Always travel with an emergency preparedness kit in your vehicle and be prepared to encounter inclement weather.
• Make sure your gas tank is full and that you have window washer fluid, a spare tire, and other items that could come in handy.

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

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