It’s that time of year again and the holidays are upon us. I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to every minute of it! As we head into Thanksgiving I wanted to share some safety tips and statistics that will help keep you and your family safe.
First a few fun facts about the upcoming feast:
- According to CNN about 46 million turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving Day
- Unfortunately, the average number of calories consumed on Thanksgiving is about 4,500 (yes, two days’ worth of calories in one) I hope you get your tennis shoes on and run to those Black Friday sales
- Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday on October 3, 1863 by Abraham Lincoln
Now for the safety facts:
- According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the #1 day for house fires caused by cooking followed by Christmas
- The #1 reason for a house fire on Thanksgiving is unattended cooking
- Food poisoning outbreaks occur most often in November and December according to the CDC
The ways to prevent all of these from happening on Thanksgiving, except the calorie one:
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food
- Stay at the home when cooking your turkey
- If you are frying a turkey, make sure it is on level ground, outside, and at least 10 feet away from your home.
- Make sure your turkey is thawed and dry before you deep fry
- Keep a fire extinguisher handy and make sure your smoke alarms are working
- Thaw your turkey in the refrigerator, which takes about 5-6 days, or in cold water switching it out every 30 minutes to prevent bacteria growth
- Don’t wash your turkey, it can cause bacteria to spread up to 3 feet away
- Use a meat thermometer, your turkey should reach 165 degrees in the innermost part of the thigh, wing and the turkey breast
- Make sure you don’t have lit candles near any tablecloths, napkins or drapes and be sure to blow them out before going to bed
Lastly, it is always a good idea to take a look at you current policy limits, coverages and deductibles. Make sure your policy is a “Replacement Cost” policy including personal property at replacement cost. In the event of a claim, this will help you to replace your belongings rather than receiving the depreciated value.
I hope these tips help you to have a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with family and friends.