There is a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, whether it is family or a new job or a healthy life. However, there are still plenty of accidents that can happen this holiday season, whether you are traveling by car, train, plane, or bus. So you should do what you can to stay protected. The weather has been kind of unpredictable lately, but it’s likely that we might be facing some cold weather as we head out for our Thanksgiving dinner. So before you bundle up the family, pack up the car, or stick the pies in the oven do your part to stay safe.

1)    This is Indiana, where it isn’t uncommon to experience all four seasons in less than 48 hours. So you might be wearing a t-shirt or bundling up in thick coats and many layers this Thanksgiving. If you are bundling up, remember that bulky clothes and coats can prevent a car seat from doing its job to the best of its ability. So try to take off those coats in the car and cover your child with a thick blanket after they have been strapped in safely.

2)    Thanksgiving is guaranteed to be a little hectic with all the cooking and family around. According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the number one day for home-cooking fires. You can help this by removing fire hazards from near the stove like wood utensils, oven mitts, plastic bags, or towels. Also avoid leaving food that is cooking unattended for long periods of time without setting a timer.

3)    If you are traveling for the holiday, like many people do, you’ll want to make sure that your home is protected in any way that you can while you are away. First off, don’t post your travel plans online. You never know who might see this information and take advantage of the situation.

4)    Don’t forget to lock all of your windows and doors if you are leaving your home. One-third of home burglaries happen through unforced entry, where thieves are just able to get in through an open window or unlocked door. You might consider installing a security system as well if you don’t already have one in place.

5)    An estimated 43.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home over Thanksgiving weekend, and around 90 percent of those people will travel by car. So give yourself some extra time – especially if the weather is bad. With so many people, slow traffic is a given. However, if you aren’t in a rush, you will be less stressed and more patient.

Do what you can to keep holiday hazards at bay. Thanksgiving should be a memorable time, but it should be memorable for the right reasons. So take some precautions before you leave so that you aren’t going to have an unpleasant surprise.

Resources:

https://www.safekids.org/blog/5-tips-safe-and-happy-thanksgiving

http://www.safewise.com/blog/tips-keeping-home-safe-thanksgiving/

http://blog.esurance.com/thanksgiving-safety-tips-for-hosts-and-travelers/