Thanksgiving is a time to gather together with family and friends and share a good meal. However, this time of the year can also be stressful and hectic because of the traveling and preparation. With all the cooking and rushing around, accidents can happen. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday by following these Thanksgiving safety tips.
Safety Tips for Thanksgiving
You may be planning a big family dinner for Thanksgiving. Take safety precautions to prevent accidents and emergencies. These tips will come in handy whether you are hosting family and friends or traveling.
Thanksgiving Safety Tips: Food Preparation
When making Thanksgiving dinner, practice proper food handling and preparation. If you are working with raw poultry and meat, wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling the food. Always sanitize utensils and food preparation surfaces to kill bacteria.
Don’t serve an undercooked turkey. Allow any frozen meat to thaw thoroughly in the fridge. Food safety tips recommend allowing a frozen turkey to thaw for one day for every five pounds. When cooking the turkey, always make sure the temperature reaches 165 degrees to guarantee it is fully cooked.
To reduce the risk of fire, never leave the stove unattended. Keep an eye on your dishes as they cook. Whether you’re grilling outside or roasting food in your oven, have another adult to watch the food if you need to step away.
Safety for Your Home Before Traveling
If you are leaving for the holidays, make sure your home isn’t a target for burglars by securing your property. Verify that all doors and windows are properly locked. Check your security alarm system to make sure it is working before heading out.
Think twice before you share that you’re going away on social media. Too often, families reveal their plans by posting pictures of themselves away from home for the holidays. This tells the world home is unoccupied, and the wrong people may find out. Wait until you’re back home to share the memories online.
Car Maintenance and Thanksgiving Safety Tips
If you’re gearing up for a Thanksgiving road trip, get your car inspected before heading out. Your tires, wipers, and fluids should all be checked before you leave town. Make sure your car is in good working order ahead of time to avoid trouble on the road. This way, you’re less likely to experience any breakdowns or emergencies en route to Thanksgiving dinner.
Air Travel Safety Precautions
Airports are busy during the holidays. If you’ve booked a flight for Thanksgiving, give yourself more than enough time to arrive and go through security. With so many people driving to and from the airport, it’s best to arrive more than two hours early. Don’t ever leave your luggage unattended in airports, and report any suspicious behavior.
With fall already in full swing, Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. Keep these tips in mind when preparing to host a gathering or traveling to visit family.
On Point Home Inspections offers home inspection services to the Front Range in Colorado. Contact us to schedule an appointment.