The Holidays are here.  And that often times means traveling by planes, trains and automobiles (FYI, one of my favorite holiday movies…).
While traveling should be painless and seeing family should be fun, that occasionally takes a lot of work (and luck) to avoid any tragedies.  Here are a few turkey day tips to help you and your family stay safe for the holiday.

Turkey Day Safety Tips

⇒ In the car: If you’re like me, colder weather means lots of layers of clothing. But remember, bulky winter clothes and coats can keep a car seat from doing its job. Instead, cover your child with a thick blanket to stay warm after you’ve securely strapped him or her into the car seat.  You can visit our winter car seat safety blog here for more winter travel car seat safety tips.  You cannot enjoy your turkey dinner if you never arrive.

⇒  The kitchen: At Thanksgiving, things are guaranteed to get a little busy. To help keep hot food out of the reach of little hands, be sure that pot handles and other dishes aren’t close to the edge of the counter or table where they could be pulled down by curious kids.  This goes for cooking the turkey, too.  No matter if its in the oven, smoker, or deep fried; pay extra attention to your surroundings to prevent a catastrophe.  Many house burn every year due to a frozen turkey dropped into a boiling container of oil that over flows. Be sure to thaw your turkey prior to cooking.

⇒  By the fireplace: If there’s a fireplace in the home, be sure to check that it’s protected by a sturdy screen – and remember that glass screens can take a while to cool down even after the fire has gone out.  Be sure to change your smoke alarm batteries, too!  A majority of fire related fatalities have 1 or less working smoke alarms in the home.

⇒ Medicines and Poisons: Kids get into medication in all sorts of places, like in purses and nightstands. In fact, in 67 percent of medicine-related ER visits, the medicine was within reach of a child, such as in a purse, left on a counter or dresser, or found on the ground. A good rule of thumb: “Up, up and away.” Keep medications out of reach and out of sight.

⇒  Bedtime: For many of us, holiday travel means we’ll be spending the night away from home. While you might be fine sleeping on the couch or an air mattress, make sure your baby always sleeps in a safe crib, bassinet or pack-n-play.  A safe sleeping environment is not a nice-to-have; babies MUST have a proper sleeping environment!

Now, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

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‘Safety Nick’, as he is affectionately known, is a professional firefighter and the owner and operator of Home Hazard Prevention, LLC (HHP).  With the support of his wonderful (and understanding!) wife and two beautiful children, Nick works tireless hours, not only to help save your family’s lives, as a firefighter and a community safety expert, but also to be able to spend quality time with his family.  Nick moved to Arizona over 20 years ago and enjoys exploring our great state with his family.

Be sure to contact Home Hazard Prevention for any of your family or business safety needs. From mobile CPR training to car seat education to infant safety (and much more!) HHP is here to help! Remember, a complete safety program does not have to be expensive or time-consuming. There is no one more qualified than a group of professional firefighters to keep your family safe! (480) 448-0266 or Nick@HomeHazardPrevention.com

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