Thanksgiving Safety Checklist

By Caroline Williams, South Orange Rescue Squad CPR & Community Education Lead

 

Thanksgiving marks the start of the year-end holiday crush. With all you’ve got on your holiday to-do list, you probably don’t have “safety”. That’s OK – we’ve created some checklists and tips to help you and your loved ones have a happy, healthy and safe end of the year.

Thanksgiving Fire Prevention

Thanksgiving Day has the most house fires of any day of the year, followed by Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so fire safety is number one for this season!

    • Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher and a fire blanket on every floor of your home and near outdoor kitchens, grills and deep fryers.
    • Test your smoke detectors.
    • Check your fireplace and chimney for cracks and buildup – if you haven’t used them in a while, get them properly cleaned and inspected.
    • Keep anything that can catch on fire away from the stovetop or fireplace/fire pit.
    • Establish a 3- to 5-foot “no kids or pets” zone around cooking surfaces, deep-fat fryers and fires.
    • Use a fireplace screen to prevent coals or embers from escaping and a hearth rug to protect flooring.
    • Place candles at least one foot from things that can burn and away from pets and kids.

Thanksgiving Kitchen Safety Tips

Since most house fires start in the kitchen and lots of injuries do, too, taking prevention action really does help reduce risk. One thing you can do right now is replace expired items in your first aid kit and locate it near the kitchen. When you’re cooking:

    • Keep small appliances, especially countertop deep fryers, and their cords from hanging over the counter where they can get snagged, tripped over and pulled down.
    • Point pot handles toward the side or back when on the stove and hold steamed items near the back of the counter or middle of the table.
    • Wear shoes and a short-sleeved shirt or roll up your sleeves.
    • Stay in the kitchen when anything is cooking on the stove and in the house when something’s in the oven.
    • Make sure you have a clear path and plenty of space before moving the turkey or hot liquids.
    • Double-check that burners and appliances are turned off.
    • Clean up spills immediately to avoid slips and falls.

Did you know SORS offers free First Aid, Stop the Bleed and CPR classes? Learn more and sign up! (image via Caroline Williams, SORS)

How to Treat Minor Kitchen Injuries

Despite our best efforts, accidents do happen. Here’s what you need to know to treat common kitchen injuries.

How to treat kitchen cuts:

  1. Get a dressing from the first aid kit
  2. Place it on the wound
  3. Apply firm direct pressure to try to stop the bleeding
  4. Add another layer of dressing if needed
  5. Maintain pressure on the wound and raise the wound above the heart, if possible.
  6. Call 9-1-1 if blood loss equals half of a soda can, if the blood flows continuously or spurts, or if the person shows signs or symptoms of shock.

How to treat kitchen burns

Run cool, clean water over the burned area for 3 to 5 minutes to reduce heat in the tissue and keep the burn from getting deeper. Do not use ice! Extreme cold also burns.

For a burn smaller than a quarter:

  1. Run it under cool water for a total of 20 minutes.
  2. Gently spread on antibiotic ointment.
  3. Cover with a dry gauze pad and tape.

Call 9-1-1 if the burn:

    • Happens to a young child or older person
    • Is bigger than a quarter
    • Looks moist and beefy-red in appearance OR pearly white, light brown, khaki-colored or charred with no pain
    • Causes intense pain listers
    • Covers a joint or a large portion of the body
    • Is on the face, neck, nose, eyes, ears, hands or genitalia
    • Involves multiple layers of skin, muscle or bone
    • Happens to someone with diabetes, arthritis or heart disease.

Emotional Holiday Health

The holidays aren’t merry and bright for everyone. Here’s some advice to help you address your feelings and to help others ease theirs.

Stress: With so much going on, stress can really build. Whether it’s family drama, demands at work or too many things to do – overwhelm is a real possibility. If you find yourself feeling paralyzed by everything going on, if your emotions are on edge, take a break. I know that’s not easy to do and feels like it’s going to defeat the purpose. But it truly is the best first step. Take a few deep breaths, maybe even a walk. Then drink some water. It sounds too simple, but it’s easier to get dehydrated than you think – and that stresses our bodies! Even if you can’t remove anything from your plate, give yourself a time-out when you can.

If your friend or family member seems on edge, take action. Instead of asking them how you can help, offer something specific. “I’m going to the Post Office tomorrow, can I pick up some stamps or mail a package for you?” or “We’re getting take-out and ordering enough for you.” Even if all you do is bring them some cocoa, you’ll be helping.

Sadness and Loneliness: Feelings of sadness, loneliness and regret can be amplified during the holidays. I know it feels awkward, but when you’re feeling this way, reach out to someone. They may not realize what you’re going through and would be happy to help. The Orange County Senior Centers and faith communities are other options for connection. But if that feels too much, even something as simple as looking out the window, sitting outside or visiting a local coffee shop or museum can lift your mood. If the situation feels hopeless, call 9-1-1 or the 9-8-8, National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

If you know someone who might be feeling down or who is alone, check on them. It can be as simple as a call, text or card – or you can take them some food or include them in your plans.

One more thing, data shows that unintentional gunshot wounds increase during the holidays. When hosting guests or visiting others’ homes, make sure that all firearms are unloaded, locked and stored separately from the ammunition.

SORS volunteers have been serving the community for more than half a century! Whether we’re teaching you how to respond to emergencies, answering 9-1-1 calls or assisting with technical rescues – we’re ready when you need us. Don’t hesitate to call 9-1-1 in case of fire or injury!

The South Orange Rescue Squad offers free CPR, First Aid and Stop the Bleed classes to community members and businesses. Visit www.sors.us/cpr to learn more about the courses, see our schedule or donate to support our work.

Follow the South Orange Rescue Squad on social media for more health and safety tips!

The South Orange Dispatch is a monthly column on Chapelboro by the South Orange Rescue Squad: an all volunteer, 501c3 non-profit providing EMS and technical rescue services in the Carrboro-Chapel Hill area of Orange County since 1971.

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