3 Safety Tips for Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is an amazing time of year. For many of us we are able to spend extended time with our loved ones. Whether it is extended family coming into town and college age kids returning home from school or much needed time off of work and sharing family traditions, we can all appreciate sitting around the table to share a meal and give thanks.

Your Thanksgiving Day may include an extended amount of time in the kitchen. While cooking with family can be so much fun, be careful! You may not realize that one of the most dangerous holidays is Thanksgiving! The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shares that over 1,800 fires happen on Thanksgiving each year, which is three times the national average of fires in a day. From kitchen fires to turkey frying incidents, the key is to stay alert and safe.

Let us share a few safety tips that we give our friends, family, and local community when it comes to Thanksgiving safety.

1. Watch the oven. Fires often start in the kitchen! This can happen because of unwatched pots on the stove, unattended items baking in the oven, or even putting the “wrong” thing such as metal or plastic in the microwave. To stay safe be sure to use your common sense, ask questions, and ask for help from those in your house if you need to step away from the kitchen.

2. Keep an eye on young children. Kids love to help! While this can be an absolute blessing and add much joy to the festivities, be sure to think about their safety needs as well. What hot items will be in reach of small hands? Will you have sharp items, like knives, in use? Does anyone have an allergy you need to be aware of? While you don’t want to curb the enthusiasm, being mindful of safety concerns make this an enjoyable experience for all involved.

3. Don’t leave the house with appliances on. It may seem simple to step out of the house for just a moment to visit with a relative, get a workout in, or take the trash out. Remember, accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, and usually do. If there is an errand that has to be done, ask a friend or family member to run it for you. If you must leave the house, ask for help from a responsible adult who can step in for you.

These are just a few safety tips to keep you and your loved ones safe over the Thanksgiving holiday. Do you have any tips you would like to share with us? Do not wait to let us know! If you need help over the holiday, do not forget that we are here for you 24 hours a day. If you need an attorney during the Thanksgiving holiday, do not wait to call our office.