Thanksgiving is a time to gather and share blessings with family and friends, but extra people around the table often mean increased risk for the homeowners. We’ve compiled a list of Thanksgiving safety tips so you can avoid the most common problems that pop up during the holiday.
While many of these Thanksgiving disasters may actually be covered perils in your homeowners' policy, you still want to prevent them from happening. That way, you can spend your holiday with your family – not your insurance company.
1. Fry turkeys safely
Each year, more than 1,000 turkey fryer fires ruin Thanksgiving. That’s hardly a surprise considering you’re dropping a raw bird into a vat of hot oil. But the potential explosion from not drying or thawing your turkey sufficiently is only one of your risks. Turkey fryers can also start fires if you:
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Use too much oil.
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Knock over the fryer.
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Overheat the oil.
That said, deep-fried turkey is delicious and a staple at many Thanksgiving tables. So if you can’t pass it up, you may be able to avoid a turkey fryer fire by thawing the bird completely, keeping flammables a safe distance away, and never overfilling the fryer. While you’re at it, keep the children far from this Thanksgiving tradition. In fact, clear the area when you’re about to plop (we actually don’t recommend plopping - more like gently lowering) the bird in the pot.
If you do have a fire, use a fire extinguisher to put it out – never water. (In case we haven’t made this clear, water and oil don’t mix.) And then call your representative because your homeowners' insurance can usually cover the damage.
2. Deter home thefts
According to reports from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), robberies and personal larceny increase by about 20% during the holiday season. While this statistic focuses on the December holidays, it all starts with Thanksgiving.
Thieves know that you’re buying presents and may have more cash on hand. Plus, people are away from their homes more during the holidays, and that gives criminals ample opportunity to break in or swipe packages off of porches.
You can protect yourself in a few different ways, such as:
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Getting a security system. This not only deters criminals, but it may earn you a discount on your homeowners' insurance.
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Using lights with timers. You can give the impression that you’re home pretty easily with today’s smart technology.
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Canceling your mail. If you go away, even for a weekend, halt mail service or ask a friend to pick up your deliveries.
If your home is burglarized, your homeowners' insurance may be able to provide coverage for what was stolen, including items that were in your car away from your home.
3. Keep food safe
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 48 million people get sick from foodborne pathogens every year. And with the number of amateur chefs making full-blown feasts, Thanksgiving may be the national championship of food poisoning.
The most likely culprit of this Thanksgiving disaster is probably undercooked turkey. It can easily spread bacteria through much of your Thanksgiving dinner if you’re not careful about cross-contamination.
Luckily, the CDC provides a host of food safety tips to keep your guests safe, including:
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Thaw your turkey safely and completely. Turkeys generally take 24 hours per pound to defrost, so buy your bird early. And never leave it on the counter. The safest way is in your refrigerator, but you can also defrost it in a leak-proof bag in a sink full of cold water as long as you change the water every 30 minutes.
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Handle your turkey safely. You need to wash your hands thoroughly before handling raw turkey, and never let any utensil, cutting board, dish, or other surface that’s touched raw turkey come into contact with any other part of your meal, whether it’s cooked or not.
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Cook your defrosted turkey completely. To kill any bacteria in your turkey, make sure that it is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can check this by putting a cooking thermometer into the thickest part of your turkey’s breast, wing, and thigh.
4. Be alert when you cook
Kitchens are busy places on Thanksgiving Day, and it shows in an increase for fire risk. US fire departments responded to approximately 2,400 residential fires on every Thanksgiving Day between 2014 and 2016. That’s more than double the average number of residential fires on all days.
Protect your home and your loved ones by:
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Watching where you set down towels and other flammable items.
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Never leave food cooking on your stovetop unattended.
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Keeping a lid near your stove as you cook so you can put out a fire.
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Asking someone to keep children and pets out of the kitchen.
A fire in your home can be absolutely devastating, but your homeowners' insurance can help you recover. Once you pay your deductible, your insurer helps pay to repair damaged parts of the kitchen and replace destroyed items like pans and appliances. And if you have to temporarily relocate, your loss of use coverage can help with additional living expenses.
5. Avoid animal liability incidents
Of course, your furry friend is a total sweetheart! But sometimes our pets’ behavior can be unpredictable. The increase in guests and busy scenarios that normally accompany the holidays can often trigger unexpected reactions. In fact, dog bites are likely more common than you think - according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year.
To help keep your pet and your guests safe, work on socializing and training them before the big day. During the celebrations, make sure you know where they are at all times and monitor their body language so you can remove them from any stressful situations. And, before any gatherings, make sure to check that your policy has animal liability coverage in case the unexpected does happen!
6. Stop clogs and backups before they happen
Before your guests help clean up after dinner, be sure to let them know what can go down the drain and what can’t. They may be used to having a garbage disposal when you don’t have one, or they might think it’s ok to put a little grease down their drains sometimes. They might even occasionally flush things in the toilet that belong in the garbage can.
While a small drain mishap could make for a funny Thanksgiving story later, a big clog or backup could be a major headache. Luckily, if one of your guests makes a costly mistake, your home insurance may cover the damage with a water backup endorsement.
7. Minimize the chance of guest injuries
Burns from turkey fryer fires aren’t the only injury risk at your gathering. Guests could slip on frosty walkways outside, trip over loose rugs, or they might even just tip over after a little too much wining and dining.
You can avoid some of these issues by:
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Cleaning up paths and hallways before guests arrive.
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Having alcohol-free beverages on hand and serving coffee with dessert.
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Keeping some areas off limits.
We know you’ll keep an eye on your loved ones to try to prevent any disasters, but accidents happen! Your home insurance can likely help pay the costs of medical expenses like ambulance rides and emergency room visits if someone gets hurt during the celebration.
With a little forethought and planning, you can avoid most Thanksgiving disasters. But if something bad does happen, your homeowners' insurance policy may be able to help.
