TAMPA, FLA. - Thanksgiving is all about welcoming the start of the Fall season, reuniting with relatives, giving thanks, oh, and food! We look forward to football, parades, shopping - but we don’t look forward to what might possibly go wrong.

People rarely expect anything to go wrong on Thanksgiving, but it sure does happen. There are still many 9-1-1 calls made as well as trips to the emergency room. “...according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are three times as many home cooking fires on Thanksgiving as a normal day of the year. This translates into a 250% increase over the daily average when it comes to home cooking fires,” (Insurance.com, “Thanksgiving 2019: How Insurance Covers a Cornucopia of Feast Fiascos”). 

Where there’s a will there’s a way! Like any holiday, Thanksgiving does pose some possible dangerous situations. Don’t worry! There are always ways to avoid that.

Leave it to the Cook

Thanksgiving is a lot of cooking, and cooking can bring grease spills, falls and even fires. Over the years, deep frying your turkey has become very popular in the U.S. “Proponents say it takes less time to cook and that the meat is juicier,” (Mercury Insurance, “Beware of Thanksgiving Day Hazards”). While it may be mouth-watering, deep frying a turkey needs a good amount of oil to cook properly. Hot oil can be harmful to not only human skin, but can also ruin landscaping and even melt certain plastics. While using the deep fryer, it’s probably best to do so in a secluded area that your guests won’t be near (that goes for small children as well.) Always be aware of the deep fryer and handle it with extreme caution. 

So Dad may have been a beast at deep frying the turkey the last 4 years but somehow this year he managed to undercook it and all of your guests got food poisoning! Or worse, he knocked over the deep fryer and grease spilled all over mom’s award-winning rose bushes. Let’s hope your policies have the right (enough) coverage! 

Here are some extra tips to keep in mind when cooking on Thanksgiving:

• Don’t leave anything unattended. Check items that are cooking regularly and opt for a timer just in case.

• Opt for tighter closing as opposed to loose-fitting clothing. 

• Keep any flammable items away from the stove, oven or grill.

• All deep fryers should be kept outdoors away from any structures that could catch fire.

• Keep a charged smoke alarm in the kitchen at all times.

• Ensure that turkey is completely thawed before cooking.

• Keep the poison control hotline at hand in case a guest has a reaction to one of the dishes. If a guest chokes, call 9-1-1 if you’re not able to remove the obstruction.

• Have a fire extinguisher nearby.

• Keep the poison control hotline at hand’s reach

In the event that your guest does become sick from something they ate, your homeowners insurance will come into play. “Your homeowners general liability policy should protect you. This coverage will pay for medical bills, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering associated with the food poisoning.  If there is a lawsuit filed, your carrier will cover the costs of the litigation, and will also provide you with legal representation,” (Insurance.com). 

“If one of your guests appears to be choking and he or she is unable to speak, start by giving them five hard blows to the back. If that doesn’t clear the blockage, attempt the Heimlich maneuver until the food has been forced out. Call 911 if you can’t remove the obstruction,” (Mercury Insurance, “Beware of Thanksgiving Day Hazards”).

While all of these tips are very helpful, it’s best to not let normal everyday dangers affect the mood of your Thanksgiving day. As long as you encourage safety and handle items with caution, your Thanksgiving should be an easy one! Always remember that Clifton and Lewis Insurance is available by phone, email or in person to discuss your current homeowners policy. It might be wise to look into obtaining an umbrella policy for extra liability coverage incase of an incident.