Thanksgiving Safety Tips

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to share with family and friends, marked by traditions and of course, a delicious meal. Some dream of savory side dishes, while others would prefer to skip straight to dessert. But there’s no denying that the folks surrounding your table are more important than the feast waiting atop it.

Talking Turkey
While an overcooked turkey can be remedied by a generous helping of gravy, a cooking fire can quickly turn a special day into a disaster. In fact, three times more cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than the average day. Fire departments across the country responded to an estimated 1,570 cooking fires on Thanksgiving in 2016.

The most common cause of these fires? Unattended cooking. It’s easy to get distracted with guests arriving and multiple recipes in progress, so whether you’re baking or basting, here are some safety tips to keep in mind while preparing your Thanksgiving feast:

  1. Remain in the kitchen while stovetop burners are on. This will not only help prevent a recipe fail, but a fire as well.
  2. Don’t leave home when the turkey is in the oven and be sure to check it frequently. If deep frying your turkey, never leave the fryer unattended.
  3. Keep children away from the stove and away from kitchen tools. An unattended knife or peeler can be extremely dangerous in little hands.
  4. Keep the floor clear to prevent tripping or slipping. One innocent toy can spell danger for a casserole-laden cook.
  5. Test fire alarms before you start preparing the meal. This is a smart precaution to take any time you’re hosting guests. Also, keep a fire extinguisher handy and ensure each member of the family knows how to use it properly.

Hitting the Road
Over 54 million people will travel 50 miles or more this Thanksgiving, with over 48 million driving to their dinner destinations, according to AAA. The best days to travel are Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday and Saturday – but by Sunday, expect road congestion as most families start to head back home. With that many drivers on the road, it’s important to keep these travel tips in mind.

  1. Make sure your vehicle is road trip-ready, checking tire pressure and oil levels before departure.
  2. For long trips, switch drivers and take breaks often to ensure that the person at the wheel remains alert.
  3. Check the weather forecast along your route and prepare for winter weather or storms if necessary.
  4. Avoid distractions, such as mobile devices, and if you need to pull over, get as far off the road as possible.
  5. Be sure to pack plenty of things to keep kids busy, like books, games, coloring books and snacks.

If an accident occurs, West Law Firm is here to help. We’ll walk with you every step of the way, equipped with the experience needed to help get you the compensation you deserve. To schedule your free initial consultation, contact West Law Firm at 843-761-5626 or click here.

About West Law Firm, P.A.

Founded by H. Norman West in 1945, West Law Firm has served the Lowcountry for nearly 75 years.  Practice areas include personal injury, car wrecks, criminal defense, DUI defense, family law, wrongful death, land disputes, business litigation, probate and estate planning, and alternative dispute resolution.

West Law Firm, P.A.
207 Carolina Avenue
Moncks Corner SC 29461

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