Tips to ensure a tasty and fun-filled Thanksgiving

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kylsee Wisseman
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Across the nation, people are dusting off their fryers and preparing the burners for massive holiday feasts and celebrations.

From fire safety to safe driving, there are several important safety tips to heed to during the holiday season.

Cooking incidents are a leading cause of death, injury and damage during the Thanksgiving holiday. Fryers, knives and stovetops are just a few things that present danger, especially when one does not pay attention to what he or she is doing.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Reporting System, approximately 2,000 Thanksgiving fires are reported each year. These residential fires result in an annual average of five deaths, 25 injuries and $21 million in property damage, with 69 percent being the result of cooking mishaps.

Here are a few cooking safety tips to help ensure you are safe during the holidays:

· Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food.

· If leaving home, for even a short period of time, turn off the stove or oven.

· Use a timer as a reminder that the stove or oven is on.

· Keep things that burn off of the stovetop.

· Don't store flammable items in an oven, microwave or toaster oven.

· Clean food and grease off burners, stovetops and ovens.

· Wear tops with sleeves that are short, close fitting or tightly rolled up.

· Keep kids away from cooking areas - enforce a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around the stove.

· Use the stove's back burners whenever possible and turn pot handles inward to reduce the risk that pots will be knocked over.

In addition to cooking safety, you should also be aware of travel and road conditions to ensure a safe drive during the holidays.

Before traveling, ensure your vehicle is in proper condition. Here are a few ways to do so:

· Check the roadworthiness of your car. Make sure your headlights, brake lights, brakes, hoses and windshield wipers are all functioning properly.

· Check your wheels. It's important to make sure your tires are in top shape before you hit the road. Tire pressure drops in colder temperatures, so you may need to fill it up before and even during your trip if you are headed to colder regions. Also, if your tire treads are running uneven or if you see cracks, cuts or bulges, it may be time to invest in new tires.

· Buckle up everyone in the car. Seatbelts save lives.

· Keep aware of advisory signs like "Deer Crossing" or "Bridge May be Icy."

· Avoid distractions like talking and texting on your cell phone or turning to see passengers in the back seat. Distracted drivers are just as likely to be involved in a crash as drunk drivers.

· Try to plan the bulk of your travel during the day when conditions are safer and be aware of what weather to expect where you are headed.

· Don't drink and drive! Remember, impairment starts at the first drink, never risk the safety of yourself, your friends, your family or others on the road.

Keeping these safety tips in mind, using sound judgment and common sense during the Thanksgiving holiday break, will ensure an enjoyable holiday season.

"Therefore, we must always focus on safety while performing the tasks at hand to ensure we have the truly wonderful holiday we all deserve," said Staff Sgt. Michael Warstler, 7th Bomb Wing Safety Office.