Thanksgiving is known for making everything grander. From the feasts to the party sizes. One other thing that it is notorious for: Injuries. Emergency rooms see an outpouring of patients during the Thanksgiving season with a whole host of injuries. From car accidents to slip and falls to food poisoning, there are some injuries that are more common to the holiday than others. Luckily, you may be able to avoid these injuries just by being aware of what they are.
Slips, trips, and falls are extremely common during Thanksgiving. It is not just due to icier conditions outside. In fact, plenty of these falls and trips will occur indoors. Whether you are enjoying Black Friday shopping deals or if you are just trying to grab last-minute ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner, the excess foot traffic and wet surfaces in stores increase the likelihood of injury.
Be cautious about where you are walking inside and out. If you can, shop during non-peak hours, such as late at night or early morning. Also, wear shoes that have a good rubber sole and offer plenty of support. That way, if you walk on an icy surface outside, your shoes still have adequate grip.
Car accidents can occur for a variety of reasons during Thanksgiving, including due to drunken driving and distracted drivers. While you cannot control the actions of other drivers, you can make sure that you are not the cause of an accident yourself.
Do not drink and drive. If you plan to drink, have a sober friend or family member be the designated driver for the evening. Set all GPS and radio stations before you head out for your drive, and keep cellphones away.
Burns can happen while you are cooking in the kitchen or when a small child pulls a hot pot down from the stove. To prevent this, always exercise caution while working in the kitchen. Use potholders when removing hot items from the oven or stove, and ask for assistance if the turkey is too heavy to lift from the oven alone.
Use stable pots and pans while cooking, too. All it takes is a handle snapping while you’re carrying hot food to burn yourself. Also, turn handles away from the edge of the stovetop so that children cannot reach them, and preferably keep children out of the kitchen altogether.
Food poisoning during Thanksgiving and other major holidays is common. Whether it is food that an attendee prepares inappropriately or if the contamination happened at the processor’s level, it is important to take precaution before serving anything at your Thanksgiving meal – that includes refrigerating all perishable food items. When cooking, time things out so that all the food is ready to eat at once. Then, do not let it stay out longer than two hours (the window for foodborne illness).
When working with raw poultry, wash your hands thoroughly and clean the counter surfaces. Also, make sure to cook your turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you or a loved one was injured during the holidays, you need to contact a personal injury attorney to explore your options. Contact Berkowitz and Hanna LLC today to schedule a no-obligation case evaluation. Call 866-479-7909 or contact us online to get started.
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