Thanksgiving brings family, food, and fun—but also safety risks. Keep your holiday safe with these key reminders:
Holiday Travel & Home Safety
• Traveling: Thanksgiving ranks among the top holidays for traffic accidents. Ensure your car is winter-ready, allow extra travel time, plan for daylight driving, and never drive under the influence or while drowsy.
• Home Safety: Make entrances well-lit and free of clutter. Repair steps and railings. Inside, keep floors clear, clean spills immediately, use non-skid rugs, and keep cords out of walkways to prevent falls, especially for older guests.
Turkey & Food Safety (USDA Guidelines)
• Handwashing: Wash hands with soap and water before, during, and after food prep.
• Prevent Contamination: Clean and sanitize all surfaces that touch raw turkey. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and ready-to-eat foods.
• Defrosting: Thaw turkey in the refrigerator, never on the counter.
• Cooking: Roast at 325°F or higher until the internal temperature reaches 165°F in three spots: breast, thigh, and wing.
• Stuffing: Stuff turkey just before cooking; it increases cooking time by 50%.
• Leftovers: Store in shallow containers—good for four days in the fridge, two to four months in the freezer.
Kitchen & Fire Safety
• Cooking is the #1 cause of home fires. Keep an adult in the kitchen anytime cooking is happening.
• Never leave ovens or stovetops unattended.
• Keep children and pets out of the kitchen unless supervised.
Turkey Fryer Warning
Turkey fryers can cause severe fires and injuries due to oil spills and explosions. The NFPA and FEMA strongly discourage their use—watch NFPA’s demonstration videos to understand the risks.
Your Fire District wishes everyone a safe, happy, and delicious Thanksgiving!