Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather with family and friends, feast on delicious food, watch football or the Thanksgiving Day parade, and simply enjoy the holiday season. But all the hustle and bustle can also bring with it some unwanted accidents and injuries.
To avoid them, here are important Thanksgiving safety tips all homeowners should follow.
Kitchen Safety
- Keep small children away from the stove. Better yet, try to make the kitchen a child and pet-free zone.
- Do not leave the house while food is cooking.
- Ensure the kitchen floor is kept clear and doesn’t have any spills or trip hazards.
- Keep matches, lighters, candles and knives safely out of reach of children.
Fire Prevention
- Keep baking soda on hand to put out small kitchen fires.
- Make sure all smoke alarms are working properly.
- Do not leave food cooking or the stove unsupervised.
- Keep a household fire extinguisher nearby and familiarize yourself with how to use it.
- Do not leave candles burning unattended and do not burn candles near flammable items. Better yet, use flameless LED candles.
- Follow all instructions carefully when using a deep fryer and monitor it closely.
Food Safety
- Always wash your hands after handling raw or under-cooked meat, especially poultry.
- Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and produce to prevent cross-contamination.
- Use a meat thermometer and cook the turkey to an internal temperature of 165 to 180 degrees to ensure the turkey is cooked thoroughly.
- Store leftovers in the fridge or freezer within 2 hours or toss them.
Pet Safety
- Turkey and chicken bones should never be given to pets because they can splinter and pets may choke.
- Dogs should be kept away from any dish that has leeks, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, or chocolate. These foods can be hazardous to your dog’s health.
Travel Safety
- Make sure everyone buckles up for every trip.
- Be sure that your vehicle is road ready.
- Plan your route ahead of time, checking traffic and weather forecast.
- Keep an emergency kit in your car.
- Take caution in parking lots while out shopping.
- Don’t text and drive.
- Never drink and drive; assign a designated driver if you must consume alcoholic beverages.
At Eagle Service Company, your family’s comfort and safety is our top priority. From our family to yours, we wish you a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving.
