Thanksgiving brings together friends and family to relax, eat too much, and spend time doing what you love. But sometimes disaster strikes. Here are five ways to help you and your loved ones stay safe this Thanksgiving season.
Get there safe
You're planning how to cook your turkey. You're planning whether to have pumpkin or pecan pie. So make a plan for how you will get home safely. This is especially important if you'll be drinking alcohol or using other intoxicants.
Year after year, impairment is a top contributing factor in deadly crashes. Between 2019 and 2023, 70% of Portland's deadly crashes involved alcohol or drug impairment or both. 206 members of our community were killed, devastating countless family, friends, loved ones, and neighbors. Slow down. Drive alert. Designate a sober driver. Use transit or ride share. Plan ahead for travel delays. Learn more about the factors that contribute to traffic deaths.
Hold up before you deep fry that turkey
Deep fried turkey: So moist! So juicy! But wait a minute. If your turkey is not completely thawed, deep frying can be catastrophic. Check out this dramatic video from Portland Fire & Rescue to learn why you should never deep-fry a frozen turkey. Make sure it's completely thawed. Other tips:
- Fry outside in an open area with nothing overhead.
- Turn off the flame before immersing the turkey in oil.
- Measure out the proper amount of oil before you fry.
- Use the right tools.
- Keep a hose nearby.
Don't pour fat, oil, or grease down the drain
The turkey was fabulous. The yams were amazing. Now it's time to clean up. Don't everyone jump up at once. More important, don't pour fat, oil, or grease down the drain. It may look harmless as a liquid, but it gets thick and sticky when it cools. If you pour it down your drain, it sticks to pipes and clogs them up – which can definitely put a cork in your holiday fun. A clogged drain is the last thing you need!
So:
- Make sure to scrape food scraps into the trash or compost bin.
- Pour grease into cans, let it harden, and throw it in the trash.
- Stop using your garbage disposal or minimize its use.
- Wipe pots, pans, and dishes with dry paper towels before rinsing or washing them, then throw paper towels in the garbage or compost bin.
Scraping your dishes instead of rinsing them before putting them in the dishwasher will also help you save water when cleaning up after the holidays.
Install smoke alarms and keep an eye on hazards
You may have extra guests over for Thanksgiving. Smoke alarms can alert you to a fire in your home in time for you to escape, even if you are sleeping.
- Install alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area and in each sleeping area.
- Test each alarm every month, following the manufacturer's directions, and replace batteries once a year, or whenever an alarm "chirps" to signal a low battery.
- Never "borrow" a smoke alarm battery for another use – a disabled alarm can't save your life.
- Replace alarms that are more than ten years old.
- Never smoke in bed or when you are drowsy.
- Provide smokers with large, deep, non-tip ashtrays and soak butts with water before discarding them.
- Do not discard cigarettes in potted plants – they can easily catch fire.
- Never smoke in a home where oxygen is used, or smoke while using oxygen therapy.
Take care with extension cords
Extension cords can be dangerous if you don't use them properly. Emergency departments around the nation treated 24,781 injuries related to extension cords in the last five years, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Division.
- Don't overload extension cords or run them under rugs.
- Replace any electrical cord that is cracked or frayed.
- If an electric appliance smokes or has an unusual smell, unplug it immediately, then have it serviced before using it again.
- Don't tamper with your fuse box or use improper-sized fuses.