As you prepare for Thanksgiving festivities, take a moment to review a few key safety tips to help protect your home, your family, and your pets this holiday season.
Fire Prevention Tips
Between the meal prep, the crowded kitchen, and the excitement of guests arriving, Thanksgiving can get a little hectic. It’s also the peak day of the year for home cooking fires.
Follow these tips to keep your Thanksgiving fire-free:
- Never leave food cooking unsupervised
- Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children
- Never leave children alone in a room with a lit candle
- Follow all instructions carefully when using a deep fryer and monitor closely
- Test your smoke alarms
- Keep a fire extinguisher in the house
Food Safety Tips
Choking and foodborne illness tend to spike around holidays like Thanksgiving.
Keep your feast safe and delicious with these simple tips:
- Always wash your hands after handling raw or under-cooked poultry
- Clean kitchen surfaces before, during, and after food prep
- Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and produce to prevent cross-contamination
- Cook your turkey to an internal temperature of 165 to 180 degrees to ensure it is cooked thoroughly
- Refrigerate leftovers within two hours
Don’t forget about your pets! Bones can be a choking hazard, and certain spices and ingredients can be toxic to them. Learn more about pet safety on Thanksgiving from the ASPCA.