Some simple safety tips from ReadyWisconsincan be the missing ingredients to an enjoyable Thanksgiving feast.
MADISON, Wis. — Thanksgiving marks the start of a busy season for holiday travel and celebrations. ReadyWisconsin is encouraging residents to keep safety in mind, as they host parties or travel away from home.
“While we want everyone to have a fun Thanksgiving and enjoy the holiday season, we also want people to stay safe,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Brian Satula.
Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association. Many of those are the result of food or other cooking materials catching on fire. When preparing your holiday dinner, make sure you keep anything that can catch on fire — such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, towels and food packages — away from your stove.
Stay in your kitchen if you are frying, boiling or broiling food. If you are baking, make sure you check it regularly. Turn pot handles towards the back of the stove to help prevent bumping. Keep children and pets away from the stove.
Frying poses the greatest risk of fire. If you are using a turkey fryer, make sure to follow the manufacturer guidelines on appropriate use of the appliance. In addition, make sure you have a fire extinguisher that has an “A,” “B” and “C” rating and test your smoke alarms to make sure they are working properly.
Many people will be traveling during the holiday week to visit family and friends or to head to the hunting shack. Before you travel, check with 511 Wisconsin for the latest traffic and road conditions. This information, along with live traffic cameras and traffic alerts, can be accessed on the 511 Wisconsin system, which includes a free mobile app, @511WI on Twitter, or the mobile-friendly site www.511wi.gov.
Before traveling, make sure you have an emergency kit in your vehicles. Vehicle breakdowns or getting stuck in the snow can occur anywhere. A kit could help keep your family safe until help arrives. Kits should include non-perishable foods, flashlight, extra hats, gloves and blankets. You can find more information on building a kit at ReadyWisconsin.wi.gov.
For tips on emergency preparedness visit http://readywisconsin.wi.gov. You can also follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ReadyWisconsin), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ReadyWisconsin), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/readywisconsin).
