Are you traveling during the Thanksgiving Holiday or hosting a huge gathering at your home? Whether you plan to travel or stay at home, it is important to remember that you need to take steps to protect yourself and your family from injuries over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Some of your favorite Thanksgiving traditions, such as traveling to grandmother’s house for dinner, playing football after dinner, or cooking Thanksgiving dinner at your home can result in injuries that dampen your celebrations. Below are Thanksgiving safety tips that can help you avoid some potential hazards that cause injuries during the holiday weekend.

Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Preparing Your Thanksgiving Meal

The National Fire Protection Association states that cooking fires are three times more likely on Thanksgiving Day compared to a typical day. One of the common reasons for these fires is unattended stoves and ovens. People begin cooking and become distracted by family or other preparations. Do not leave your cooking unattended and make sure you have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.

In addition to avoiding fires, it is important to practice safe cooking practices to avoid food-borne illnesses. The CDC provides Thanksgiving safety tips for preparing your turkey, handling and serving food, and preparing leftovers.

Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Traveling

Millions of people will be traveling by road during the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. If you are leaving on a road trip, you should have your car inspected and serviced before leaving.  Also, make sure that you have an emergency car kit with all items you may need if you and your family are stranded on the side of the road.

Before leaving, get a good night’s rest and avoid distractions while driving. When traveling long distances, it can help to share the driving responsibility with another adult. If you have young children, you can make the ride easier by planning several activities to keep the children occupied during the drive.

Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Hosts

If you are hosting a gathering in your home, you need to take steps to be a responsible host. When serving alcohol during your Thanksgiving celebration, you need to make sure that your guests have a designated driver or alternate form of transportation if they over-indulge. Serving food and offering non-alcoholic beverages toward the end of the evening can also help reduce the risk of a DUI accident.

If you are hosting a large gathering, hiring a professional bartender can help. A bartender can watch for guests who are intoxicated and notify you of the potential problem. You also need to make sure you understand your legal liability as a host. Click here to learn more about Indiana’s Dram Shop Laws.

We Wish You a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving Holiday

The PBAR legal team wishes everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving Holiday. We hope that you will not need a personal injury attorney during the holidays. However, if you are injured, we are here for you.

Contact Poynter & Bucheri by calling 1-800-265-9881 or (317) 780-8000 to request your free consultation with an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer.