Thanksgiving is arguably the most important family reunion day in the United States, and it is also one of the “most dangerous” holidays of the year. People drink alcohol, cook turkey, or travel out on the fourth Thursday of November to snap up purchases. At the same time, the risks of food poisoning, excessive drinking, fires, and car accidents are also greatly increased.
But there are some ways to protect yourself. The following are suggestions from security experts.
Most prone to home fires
The time of Thanksgiving is often the peak of household cooking fires. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the incidence of home fires on Thanksgiving Day is three times that of any day of the year.
Other statistics show that unattended cooking is the main cause of fires in household cooking fires. In terms of cooking equipment, the deep fryer is the biggest culprit. In addition, other causes of fire include overheating of the oil, overheating of the heating pan extension cord, and accidental lighting of curtains by the fire.
Jim Bullock, president of the New York Fire Consulting Company, said that when people fry turkey, the moisture of the turkey can cause hot oil to overflow, which can lead to fires and burns. Bullock advises families with a yard to cook the frying pan outside so that even if the frying pan occurs, the house will not catch fire.
Fatal car accidents happen frequently
During the Thanksgiving weekend, millions of Americans choose to travel by car or air so they can celebrate the holiday with their loved ones.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), Thanksgiving is a holiday with frequent fatal car accidents. Every year, nearly 400 people die and nearly 50,000 are injured.
However, many accidents are preventable. According to NHSTA, 53% of people who died in car accidents during Thanksgiving in 2015 were due to not wearing seat belts. In addition, be careful not to drink and drive. Between 2012 and 2016, more than 800 people were killed in car accidents involving alcoholism during the Thanksgiving weekend in the United States.
Stuffing turkey may cause food poisoning
Filling turkey with stuffing is an ancient Thanksgiving tradition that millions of Americans still follow. However, if you choose to cook the filling in the turkey instead of cooking the filling alone, it may cause food poisoning.
The US Food and Drug Administration recommends that the internal temperature of poultry should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit during cooking to kill bacteria. However, when it comes to filling stuffing, the situation changes. Because the raw juice containing bacteria in the turkey cavity will be absorbed by the stuffing filled with the turkey.
Martin Bucknavich, a food safety expert at the University of Pennsylvania, said: “Once you do this, the filling should also reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the filling will cook slower than the turkey, so when it reaches the required temperature , The turkey will overcook.
However, if you cook a “perfect” turkey, the filling will be half-baked, which may cause food-borne illness.
Barnavich suggested that the solution to this situation is simple, use a separate pot to cook the filling. If you still want to fill the turkey, wait until the turkey is cooked. He also suggested that home cooks bring their own food thermometer to avoid running out of cooking time.
Feeding pets with Thanksgiving food is risky
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends not to feed any traditional Thanksgiving food to pets. AVMA President John de Jong said that during his 33 years of medical career, he occasionally received calls from pet owners to report accidents caused by their dogs eating during Thanksgiving.
It is understood that fatty foods such as turkey skin are difficult for pets to digest and can cause stomach upset, nausea and diarrhea. In addition, many foods that are considered healthy for humans are actually toxic to cats and dogs, including garlic, grapes, onions, raisins, and dark chocolate.
AVMA also warned that if a pet accidentally swallows turkey bones, it may cause many problems, including intestinal obstruction, organ puncture or constipation with small bone fragments. De Jong said that bones may also split and cause disease in the pet’s mouth, esophagus or digestive tract.
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Stackable Style Chair
400 lb. Weight Capacity
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Protective Plastic Floor Glides
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