Tips for a Safe Thanksgiving Holiday in Sterling & Loudon County

T’is the season to gather around the dinner table with those who matter most, and for giving thanks for all of life’s blessings, big and small.

As you plan the menu, your festive holiday table, and Thanksgiving guest list, take the time to make sure that your holiday celebration is not only joyful, but worry-free.

Take, for example, your kitchen. While it may well be the heart of your home, it’s also the site of frequent accidents and injuries.

• Stay at home while cooking your Thanksgiving Day turkey and check on it frequently. Don’t leave food on the stove top unattended.
• Use a timer to remind you to check on cooking food. You can even set a reminder on your mobile phone to go off at 15 or 30 minute intervals.
• Keep children and pets away from the stove along with hot food and liquids.
• Make sure cords from hand-held and small appliances like electric knives, mixers, and plate warmers aren’t left dangling off a table or counter where small hands could grab a hold of them and accidentally turn them on.

Nothing like festive holiday decorations and the soft glow of candlelight to make a home feel warm and inviting. But some decorations are better and safer than others when you’re hosting a large gathering.

• If you’re using real candles, keep them away from anything flammable. And always keep children and your furry friends away from an open flame.
• Better yet, opt for flameless LED candles that give off just the right amount of light without the fire hazard.
• Avoid decorations that look like fake food if young children will be visiting your home this Thanksgiving.
• Make sure lights and extension cords are not damaged and that they are tested and approved for use by a nationally-recognized testing lab like UL.

If you’re traveling this Thanksgiving, take a few precautionary steps to ensure that you find your home just as you left it.

• If you don’t have programmable or motion-detecting lights in your home, ask a family member or neighbor to routinely check on your home and turn a couple lights on just before dark.
• Put a hold on your mail delivery (or as a neighbor to take it in for you). Nothing says “empty house” to a would-be robber like an overflowing mailbox.
• You never know when the temperature will hit below freezing, so be sure to leave the heat on in your home to prevent water pipes from freezing and cracking. In fact, don’t set the thermostat below 55 F.
• You can prevent thousands of dollars’ worth of water damage by turning off the main water supply.

Also, be careful not to overstuff your garbage disposal following your Thanksgiving dinner. You’re far more likely to avoid problems by feeding it small amounts of food scraps at a time. And remember: no meat bones, fibrous foods, or grease down the drain or garbage disposal, either. That’s the kind of stuff that makes the day after Thanksgiving our busiest drain cleaning day of the year!