Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and you are probably already getting in the festive spirit. Accidents can happen over Thanksgiving and put a damper on the holiday. Follow these Thanksgiving safety tips to do your part to keep your loved ones healthy and protected.
Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Cooking
Preparing your Thanksgiving meal comes with more hazards than cooking a regular dinner because of the number of different dishes you have going at once. With multiple pans on the stove and casseroles in the oven, something is more likely to burn or spill. This can cause the house to fill with smoke or start a grease fire.
- When multiple pots are on the stove, turn the handles inwards so they aren’t sticking out. Children could reach up to grab a handle and get seriously burned.
- Set timers for all the dishes you are cooking simultaneously. This will help prevent something from burning.
- Wear short sleeves and tie back apron strings and long hair while cooking.
- Have an up-to-date fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it.
Gathering Safely
Because of the coronavirus pandemic this year, the CDC is advising taking precautions when gathering for Thanksgiving. If possible, keep your Thanksgiving guest list smaller than usual. Ideally, spend the holiday with only the people in your household. Other precautions to take are:
- Set up your Thanksgiving table outdoors if the weather allows.
- Wear masks and maintain social distancing if having people over from multiple households.
- Avoid serving finger foods and provide utensils for people to serve themselves with.
- Place hand sanitizer dispensers around the serving areas.
Thanksgiving Safety Tips and Holiday Decorations
Over the holidays, people decorate with possible fire hazards like candles and string lights. House fires are more likely to occur during the holidays than at other times of the year. Follow these Thanksgiving safety tips regarding decorations:
- Do not plug more than 2 strings of lights together. Plugging several strings of lights together is likely to overload the electrical circuit.
- Use battery-powered candles instead of traditional ones, to eliminate open flames.
- If you shop for your holiday tree at Thanksgiving, choose one that is well-hydrated instead of dry. A dry tree is more likely to be a fire hazard if it comes into contact with an open flame from the fireplace, a space heater, or a damaged electrical wire. Bend the branches of the tree to make sure they are not brittle.
You can still enjoy Thanksgiving even though it may be different than in previous years. Take the above steps to keep everyone who visits your home healthy and safe.
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