Tips to Stay Safe This Thanksgiving Holiday
Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for the various things with which we have been blessed. Thanksgiving is also an increased time of travel for people across the country. Anticipate a Thanksgiving travel surge with 55.4 million Americans expected to hit the road. This year’s projected holiday travel reflects a 2.3% rise compared to the previous year, ranking as the third-highest since 2000. Thanksgiving for many people also means a period of decorating and cooking. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving also means an increased risk of various types of accidents. In the hopes of avoiding an injury this year, consider these important safety suggestions and enjoy your celebrations with family and friends.
Avoid Car Crashes This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times for travel all year. Icy roads due to adverse weather conditions as well as alcohol consumption as the result of Thanksgiving celebrations both play a role in causing devastating car crashes. Motorists can follow these helpful tips while traveling this Thanksgiving:
- Make sure that your vehicle is fully inspected before going on a trip. This means having a professional check out your vehicle’s tires, wipers, and fluid levels.
- Winterize your vehicle before heading out on the road.
- Make sure that your gas tank is kept near full to avoid ice forming in the tank and fuel lines.
- Never operate a vehicle after consuming alcohol. You run the risk of facing criminal penalties as well as placing yourself and others in danger.
- Many people head home from Thanksgiving celebrations late at night. Avoid operating a vehicle if you are drowsy or fatigued.
- Avoid looking at your phone or engaging in other distractions while driving.
- Inspect the weather before heading out on the road.
- Also, examine the weather along your route. This way you can plan for travel around any approaching storms.
- Plan your trip to avoid driving in heavy traffic.
Avoid Cooking-Related Injuries This Thanksgiving
Whether it is from deep-frying a turkey or lighting logs used to cook outdoors, a range of cooking injuries can result when people are preparing Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving is the one day when the most home cooking fires occur. Even when the cooking is over, people can choke on food or experience adverse reactions while eating Thanksgiving dinner. Some of the kitchen safety tips that people should remember to follow include:
- Make sure to stay in the kitchen if you are cooking on the stovetop.
- Turn pot handles to the back of the stove so there is not a risk that someone bumps or knocks them over.
- Utilize timers to remind yourself that a stove or oven is on.
- Avoid wearing loose or flowing clothing while cooking.
- Make sure that children stay away from hot food and liquids.
- Keep knives away from children.
- Keep matches and lighters away from children.
- Make sure that smoke alarms work properly.
- Watch for spills from liquids while cooking, which can cause people to fall.
- Keep working fire extinguishers close by.
- Thaw turkey sufficiently because it can carry salmonella, which is a common illness-causing bacteria.
- Never use glass casseroles or lids on stoves or burners because they can explode due to heat.
- Never try to extinguish a grease fire with water because this can cause the fire to spread.
- A meal can sit for only two hours on a dinner table before it becomes unsafe and bacteria begins to multiply.
Avoid Sports-Related Injuries This Thanksgiving
Professional football has been played on Thanksgiving since the 1920s, and many families institute their own versions of the game in their backyard on the holiday. Football as well as other holiday games can result in a variety of sport injuries including broken bones and concussions. Some of the helpful steps that families can follow to avoid these accidents include the following:
- Learn adequate warm-up and cool-down routines.
- If you are planning on participating in sports, make sure to get sufficient rest.
- Do not ignore or push through pain.
- Wear sufficient gear to avoid injuries. This includes wearing a helmet, padding, eye protection, and the proper footwear.
- Never underestimate the importance of staying hydrated.
Avoid Falls and Electrical Shocks This Thanksgiving
There are many different types of injuries that are known to occur during the holidays. For example, some people fall off ladders while hanging decorations, others slip on ice while walking to the store, and still others experience electrical shocks as a result of exposed wires while placing holiday lights. Some of the helpful strategies that people can follow to avoid falls and electrical shocks this Thanksgiving include:
- Avoid covering electric cords with anything or running them under furniture.
- Never join extension cords.
- Make sure that electric cords from things like coffee makers and electric knives are not left dangling off counters within easy reach of children.
- Follow safety standards when hanging holiday lighting.
- Never leave cooking equipment unattended. Avoid overloading single circuits.
- Walk only on designated areas that have been either salted or treated for ice.
- Wear adequate shoes with sufficient traction.
- Utilize your hands for balance instead of keeping them inside your pockets.
- Eliminate distractions when walking.
- If you must walk on ice or a surface that might be slippery, take short shuffling steps.
Avoid Firearm Accidents This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is the holiday most closely associated with hunting. Not everyone who goes hunting, however, uses firearms safely and responsibly. Some helpful tips for maintaining firearm safety this Thanksgiving include:
- Act as if every firearm is loaded.
- Make sure to always point your firearm in a safe direction.
- Never point your firearm at anything that you do not intend to shoot.
- Make sure your firearm is routinely serviced.
- Store your firearm away from children, pets, family, and strangers.
- Never combine the use of a firearm with alcohol or drugs.
Contact an Experienced Accident Attorney
No matter how your Thanksgiving injury occurs, you might be eligible for compensation. If you or a family member experiences an accident during the holiday weekend, reaching out to an empathetic personal injury attorney is a wise step. Schedule a complimentary case evaluation with the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP Law Office today.
