This Thanksgiving remember to follow some helpful safety tips, to not only make sure you arrive at your destination safely but to ensure that your pets and cooking remain safe as well.
Driving, Flying, and Riding
Thanksgiving is one of the most traveled holidays, with millions of individuals visiting their loved ones. The American Red Cross and Consumer Reports emphasize the need to prepare for any challenge you may face on the road. If you are flying or taking the train, remember it is flu season, so use hand sanitizer and wash your hands frequently.
Driving to your destination? Remember to follow the rules of the road, including to:
- Fuel Up
- Be prepared for an emergency
- Don’t overload your car
- Use a GPS in case of congested roadways or to direct you around an emergency situation
- Pack food, games, and more for kids to be entertained
- Harness or seat belt your pets in place to ensure your safety and theirs
- Refrain from distracted driving and buckle up
- Watch the weather reports and prepare for winter driving conditions if need be
- If caught or stranded in bad weather, remember to stay in your car (more information can be found here)
Cooking
If you are staying put and cooking your own Thanksgiving meal, remember to keep an eye on all cooking. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2013, Thanksgiving Day was the leading date for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. Unattended food is the number one contributor to cooking fires and fire deaths, so if you are cooking stay in the kitchen to make sure nothing goes wrong.
Another concern when cooking this time of year is to keep children safe, so that means removing hazards that may affect them, this includes hot foods, liquids, and cutting utensils. But most importantly, make sure that you don’t trip over your kids, their toys, or bags when moving around the kitchen.
While cooking this holiday, make sure your smoke detectors are working properly, and never put a wet or frozen turkey in a fryer.
Pets
One part of the family often forgotten about during the holiday is our animal companions. The ASPCA is working to make sure that our pets are not forgotten. So make sure that they don’t munch on undercooked turkey, harmful floral arrangements, or an unattended alcoholic drink. If you decide to feed your pet turkey meat make sure all bones are removed and that it is well-cooked. For pets it is easy to become sick especially after ingesting foods that have raw yeast, raw eggs, or salmonella bacteria potential.
Remember to follow these tips to make your holiday a success, and from all of us at Danella, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Sources: Consumer Reports | American Red Cross | ASPCA | NFPA