Home Safety: 3 things to avoid this Thanksgiving

It’s finally fall, y’all, and Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  That means a fridge full of turkey and leftovers!  But before the season of eating begins, here are three things you should avoid to keep your family safe and happy.


  • Overindulging on wine on Thanksgiving.  A study done by the American Heart Journal back in 1978 showed that too much wine could cause heart rhythms to be disrupted, especially if the drinker is older or obese.  (Read the article here).  Try to limit your intake to one glass with dinner and stick with drinking plenty of water to help stay hydrated while facing so many high-sodium foods.
  • Deep-frying Turkeys.  I know, I know… who doesn’t love that succulent golden brown goodness that’s been freshly sliced?  I know I sure do!  However, more than 4,000 fires occur on Thanksgiving due to turkey fryer mishaps according to the U.S. Fire Administration.  If you absolutely have to deep-fry that bird:
    • Do it outside-away from structures, flammable materials, and other people.
    • Take a special note to watch for kids and pets getting close to the boiling cauldron of oil!
    • Use only the recommended amount of oil for the pot/container as that turkey will displace a lot of oil as it is submerged.
    • Watch out for water coming into contact with hot oil… it will pop and it will pop a lot!
  • Salmonella contamination.  It’s no fun being sick, especially around the holidays! Just as with chicken, you should thoroughly wash your hands and any surfaces which come into contact with the turkey with anti-bacterial soap.


Keep these three points in mind at all times to ensure you have a happy, fun, and safe Thanksgiving!


Have more tips?  Please share them in the comments below!