Thanksgiving is almost here! This means people across the country will gather together to celebrate with friends and relatives. No matter what preparations your celebration requires, it’s important to be mindful of safe practices when preparing your holiday meal and making travel plans. Safety is important, so we’re providing a few tips and reminders to ensure you have a safe holiday celebration.
Food Safety and Preparation
People want their holiday meal to be remembered for the right reasons.
- Wash your hands before touching the turkey or any other food items.
- Separate foods to avoid cross contamination.
- Plan ahead when thawing foods (a 20-pound turkey can take up to five days).
- Cook foods at safe temperatures (cook a whole turkey without stuffing at 180 degrees).
Fire Safety
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is a peak day for home cooking fires. Keeping the below points in mind can help you avoid a cooking fire.
- Avoid wearing loose, flowing clothing which can catch fire. It is better to wear sleeves that fit snugly against your arms or are short enough to not go near the fire.
- “Stand by your pan.” Don’t leave anything on the stovetop and walk away from it. Ensuring that you are closely monitoring what is cooking will help cut down the chances of an accidental fire or an injury.
- If a grease or stovetop fire does occur, extinguish the flame by covering it with a lid.
- Don’t allow children or pets near the stove when cooking.
- Keep potholders or oven mitts handy to move hot pots and pans.
- Ensure that the pots on the stove do not have exposed handles that can be knocked over when someone is passing by. Instead, turn the handles to the middle of the stovetop.
Travel Safety
Traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday makes for a busy, and sometimes stressful, time. No matter what means of transportation you plan on using, taking some additional time to plan ahead can make all the difference and keep you and your family safe.
- In the event of a breakdown or accident, it’s important to have an emergency car kit with you during your travels. There should be a number of items that can help you better deal with the difficult conditions including a shovel, blankets, water, and a first aid kit.
- Fill up your gas tank and prepare your vehicle for your trip.
- Don’t text and drive. Doing so not only puts you at a greater risk of a car accident, it puts other cars on the road at risk, as well.
- If flying, refer to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) tips and traveler information.
SETFA hopes you create lasting memories this Thanksgiving and surround yourself with great food and company. Happy Thanksgiving!