Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather with friends and family, eat delicious food, watch football (or the parade!), and travel to visit loved ones. While enjoying the holiday, and as things might get hectic, it is important to always keep safety in mind.
Top safety hazards during the Thanksgiving holiday include:
KITCHEN SAFETY
Thanksgiving is the #1 day of the year for cooking fires, reports State Farm insurance. The U.S. Fire Department confirms that more than 4,000 fires occur on Thanksgiving Day and preparing deep fried turkeys, using a turkey fryer, is the cause of approximately 5 deaths, 50 injuries, and the destruction of 900 homes and more than $15 million in property damage every year.
Kitchen safety is even more important than usual during busy holiday times, like Thanksgiving, when more people might be working in the kitchen to prepare a large meal. But for casual cooks and experienced chefs alike, the kitchen presents more hazards than imagined. Read more about the most common ways kitchen tasks send people to the ER every day so you can plan your next family gathering to be even safer.
HOLIDAY FIRE PREVENTION TIPS
Incidents of choking and food poisoning increase during the holidays, especially around Thanksgiving, as people are preparing and consuming more food than usual. Food Safety News reports that approximately 51 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving.
FOOD SAFETY
PET SAFETY
The Veterinary Medical Association warns that 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 onions, leeks, garlic, raisins, grapes or chocolate, as those foods can be hazardous to your dog's health.
HOLIDAY TRAVEL SAFETY
With Thanksgiving being one of the most travel-heavy times of the year, it is important to be prepared before hitting the road and to drive defensively, especially during bad weather.
Drivers who are texting take their eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds. Driving at 55 mph, that is about the length of a football field.
According to the National Highway Safety Association, more than 40% of holiday car accidents involve alcohol. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.
There's never a time when employees, parents or families can 'take a break' from safety. Workplace safety is often our focus because there may be bigger hazards present and we all want to get home safely to our families and loved ones at the end of the day, but safety at home is also important. Take a breather and remind yourself what the holidays are truly about and know that nothing is more important than having a safe holiday this year.
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