Thousands of Oregon families will be celebrating Thanksgiving with loved ones this week, and the American Red Cross has developed travel and cooking safety tips to help make the holiday a safe one. “The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and Red Cross wants to help everyone be safe if travel plans include going by vehicle,” said Amy Shlossman, chief executive officer for the Red Cross Cascades Region. “Also, cooking is the number one cause of home fires, so we have tips on how to avoid a fire.” If plans include driving, check the weather and avoid storms on your route. Please use seat belts and don’t drink and drive. If you’re the driver, give your full attention to the road–no cell phone use while behind the wheel. Drivers should also observe speed limits and other rules, make frequent stops and rotate drivers if possible on long trips, and not follow other vehicles too closely. Here are more driving safety tips: –Keep a safe distance when behind another vehicle. –Make sure all of your lights are clean and functioning, and that windows are clean to help you see, especially at night. –Turn on your headlights as dusk approaches or if you’re using your windshield wipers due to bad weather. –Use extra caution in work zones. If you’re the cook for that big Thanksgiving dinner, avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking. And never leave the stove unattended; turn it off if you have to leave the kitchen even for a short time. Here are more cooking safety tips: –Check food regularly and use a timer as a reminder that the stove or oven is on. –Keep children and pets away from the cooking area. –Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stove, oven or any other appliance that generates heat. Examples are pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, towels and curtains, and food packaging. –Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup. –If you don’t already have one, consider buying a fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen. –Always, not just on Thanksgiving, check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all stoves, ovens and small appliances are turned off. “People can also download the Red Cross first aid app to have information at their fingertips if an emergency occurs,” Shlossman said. “They can find out more about all of the Red Cross lifesaving apps at redcross.org/apps.” The apps are available for Apple and Android devices in English and Spanish. Information about food safety during a disaster or emergency also is available at www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/food-safety.
