Spring Hill Injury Attorney :: Thanksgiving Safety Tips for 2012 Holiday Weekend

November 17, 2012

Thanksgiving is all about being with family, friends and loved ones and should be a festive time, but if your family is like most, large gatherings can be a recipe for disaster. There are many different incidents that can cause your loved ones to sustain unnecessary injuries this time of year. Fortunately, your Hernando County Personal Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton have you covered this Thanksgiving. Whether you need tips on how to safely prepare your feast, how to prevent fires or even how to keep your furry, four-legged friend safe, the information below can make sure everyone enjoys their holiday weekend.

Thanksgiving Safety Tips & Reminders

Follow these tips when preparing your holiday feast:

• Wash your hands frequently. When you have get-togethers with family and friends you are constantly touching and handling things, so avoid the germs and wash your hands regularly.
• Always separate raw foods from cooked foods to avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen.
• Always thoroughly wash any raw foods, including fruits and vegetables.
• Refrigerate leftovers right away. Don’t let foods sit out for more than a few hours before deciding to save or toss them.
• Thaw your meat in the fridge, not on the counter.
• Make sure foods have reached the proper temperature before serving family members and guests.
• If you are stuffing a turkey, it is recommended to prepare your stuffing before placing it inside the bird. Whether you choose to cook your stuffing inside our outside your main meat, make sure it cooks to at least 165 degrees F.

For Fire Safety & Prevention read through these helpful reminders:

• Never leave food that is cooking unattended.
• Make sure children stay out of the kitchen while you are cooking your holiday meal. Steam from pots and pans and hot liquids can cause serious burn injuries.
• Keep floors and walkways clear of debris to avoid slip, trip and fall accidents.
• Make sure electrical cords are kept hidden and out of children’s sight.
• Don’t leave children alone in a room with candles burning or where matchers or lighters are easily attainable.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are in proper working order. Change the batteries and test them to make sure.

Keep your pets safe this Thanksgiving holiday by following these tips:

• If you are going to feed your pet turkey, make sure it is boneless and fully cooked.
• Herbs and oils used to prepare your Thanksgiving feast can upset your pet’s tummy and cause diarrhea and pancreatitis. Keep this in mind and avoid giving your pet any large quantities of your meal. In fact, it is best to keep your pets on their normal diet this holiday season.
• Raw dough is never okay to give to your pet. The dough can rise in your pets stomach and lead to vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become life-threatening and require surgery.
• While everyone else is feasting on turkey and all the trimmings, keep your pet happy with their own chow – just with some extras. Add a nibble of turkey or vegetables and maybe a drizzle of gravy. They’ll be happy and you can rest easy knowing your pet is free from harm.

Finally, if you are travelling for Thanksgiving be aware that this is one of the busiest and most dangerous times to be on the road. By practicing the following you can make sure you and your loved ones get to where they are going safely this holiday weekend:

• Make sure everyone wears a seatbelt. Buckling up saves lives.
• Make sure you are well-rested before hitting the road. Remember, a drowsy driver is just as dangerous as a drunk driver.
• Put your electronic devices down and keep your eyes on the road. Distractions cause tragic accidents every day on the roadways.
• Never drink and drive.
• Always slow down and move over for emergency and highway service vehicles.

While there are many ways for your family and guests to become injured this Thanksgiving, always know that there are many ways to prevent tragedies from ever occurring. Should an unfortunate incident occur, a Spring Hill Injury Attorney at Whittel & Melton can help you understand your options and how to proceed with filing an injury claim. Contact us online or call 352-666-2121 to receive a free legal evaluation.

The Hernando County Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton wish you and all of your loved ones a very safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!