Thanksgiving is a time for family, not injuries. If you’re cooking up a big banquet for your extended family, the last thing you want to worry about is coordinating an ER trip and answering questions from a personal injury attorney—especially when your in-laws are at the dinner table. Though we’re a personal injury firm, we don’t want anyone to become injured. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing our community with safety tips and educational resources. Make this Thanksgiving a safe Thanksgiving by following these safety tips.
DON’T LET LITTLE HANDS IN THE KITCHEN
Thanksgiving Culinary Safety Tips
When you have to deal with all the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving Day, it may be in everyone’s best interests for the children to stay out of the kitchen. Let’s be real: children can be reachy, grabby, sticky, train wrecks that walk and talk. And we get it, they’re your reachy, grabby, sticky train wrecks. But it’s probably not a good idea to have them in the kitchen where they can reach and grab knives, hand mixers, hot pans, and more. If you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner, you’ve likely got enough on your plate as it is. Having to manage children while you’re cooking can be a recipe for disaster.
THAT POT MAY BE HOT!
The handles of a pot may be hot even if the burner it’s sitting on isn’t on. If the burners nearby are on, they could heat up the handles of a pot on an adjacent burner. Always make sure you use hotpads when handling dishes—even ones that are already on the table. Casserole dishes, especially ceramic ones, can stay hot long after they’ve been removed from a heat source. Don’t impulsively grab the green bean casserole without making sure it’s not too hot. Watch out for lids too; it’s not uncommon for the lids on casserole dishes, or cast iron dishes, to be hot as well. Some of the lids on slow cookers may be a hazard. Make sure the lid isn’t scorching before you reach for it.
STOP UNSANITARY TASTE TESTING
Thanksgiving Culinary Safety Tips
Yes, you, with your just one finger dip, just one pinch of cookie dough, just one spoonful—you know who you are. If you feel the need to do some taste testing—and we don’t blame you if you do—the spoon needs to go in the sink immediately after you’ve gotten a taste. If you’re using your finger to taste test the cranberry sauce, you need to wash your hands right after taking a taste—and definitely before taking a taste as well. Winter is the start of flu season so it’s important to keep everyone safe by keeping your germs to yourself.
BE CAREFUL WITH THE KNIVES
All knives should be in a knife block, or hanging from a rack on the wall out of reach. If your knives are in a drawer, make sure they’ve got protective coverings on them. And, if you can, make sure the knives are stored in drawers that are out of a child’s reach. While you’re running about the kitchen, make sure you don’t leave a knife out on the kitchen counter, or in a place where a child might be able to grab it. Many people are injured each year due to unfortunate turkey carving accidents. Make sure you’re being careful when you’re carving that turkey. And remember: only adults should be carving a turkey.
BE MINDFUL OF FOOD ALLERGENS
Thanksgiving Culinary Safety Tips
Everyone knows the pecan pie contains pecans. But most people would assume that your Turkey is free from soy. If you’re serving a dish, and the secret ingredient is one of the most common allergens, it may be a good idea to make that known. This is especially true if you’re inviting people over who may have allergies that you don’t know about. If you have food sensitivities, and you’re attending Thanksgiving dinner at another person’s house, make sure you tell your host ahead of time what you’re allergic to. This way, your host can ensure that there isn’t any cross-contamination.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE GOODEST BOY (OR GIRL)
If your dog has been the goodest boy, or the goodest girl, they might deserve some table scraps.
However, it’s a good idea to make sure that they can have whatever you’re giving them.
Cooked bones can be especially dangerous for dogs because a cooked bone can splinter, causing your dog some very serious issues. Though it won’t necessarily kill your dog if a spoonful of stuffing drops on the floor, most dogs aren’t able to have too many carbs. So, if you’re giving your dog a Thanksgiving dinner, sweets, or flour-based products should be avoided as well.
WHEN YOU NEED AN ATTORNEY
At Moxie Law Group, we’re wishing you a safe holiday season from our family to yours. However, if you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s carelessness, and you need compensation, our experienced legal team is here for you. At Moxie Law Group, we give all our potential clients free consultations to help them decide whether or not we can get them the compensation they deserve. If you’ve been injured, and you’re ready to file a claim, contact Moxie Law Group today.
