However, over-exuberant guests and awkward moments are bound to happen during any get-together.
During this time of Thanksgiving dinner with friends or family members, you may find yourself falling victim to a bad case of food poisoning, getting an uninvited cockroach in your food or even getting hurt while diving in for that last piece of turkey.
Unfortunately, accidents do happen at the worst possible times. Even if you’re home alone, there is still a risk that you could injure yourself while cooking or eating your meal.
Every year thousands of people suffer injuries as a result of unsafe practices during the Thanksgiving feast. From burns to cuts, here are some common and not-so-common mishaps you can expect if you decide to host or attend a Thanksgiving dinner this year:
Dinner Mishaps
There’s no doubt that food mishaps will happen at some point during your Thanksgiving dinner. While most of these incidents can be avoided with proper food handling, you can’t control the actions of your friends or family members. Be prepared for anything at your Thanksgiving meal this year.
You may find yourself dealing with uninvited guests, awkward moments or even the need to take a few people to the emergency room. Gaffes like dropping food on the floor, sneezing and coughing into your meal and failing to wash your hands after using the restroom can lead to food-borne illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that every year about one in six Americans become sick from food-borne pathogens.
If one of your guests is suffering from a gastrointestinal illness, you may want to be extra careful with how you prepare and serve your meal. There is a good chance that the person could be shedding pathogens that could contaminate your food. Another potential issue to look out for is if someone has an allergy that you’re unaware of.
Burns
Burns are some of the most common injuries that occur during Thanksgiving. However, with the proper precautions and safety gear, you can avoid a serious burn injury. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that burns can happen in many ways.
They aren’t just limited to being exposed to high heat. Burns can happen as a result of touching, ingesting or being exposed to chemicals and even sunlight. Be sure to take the proper precautions while cooking. Wear heat-resistant gloves while handling hot dishes like casseroles, pies and turkeys. Avoid oven mitts that are made of fabric. They won’t provide enough protection against high heat temperatures.
While carving the turkey and making stuffing, be sure to use pot holders or oven gloves that are made of a heat-resistant material. Many oven gloves and mitts will have the words “heat resistant” or “oven safe” on the label.
Cuts and Scrapes
Cuts and scrapes are other common mishaps during Thanksgiving. While some cuts are inevitable when preparing your meal, you can minimize your risk of getting a cut by wearing gloves.
Knives and other kitchen utensils can easily lead to a nasty cut on your hand. Be sure to have a first aid kit on hand for minor cuts and scrapes. You may even want to include an antibiotic ointment with the bandages and gauze in the kit.
Keep a first aid kit near the kitchen where you will be doing most of your cooking. This way, if someone gets a cut while handling a hot dish or gets caught in the crossfire when food is being tossed around the kitchen, you can treat the injury right away.
Final Words
The holiday season is one of the most wonderful times of the year. Friends and family come together to give thanks for another year well lived. However, over-exuberant guests and awkward moments are bound to happen during any get-together.
During this time of Thanksgiving dinner with friends or family members, you may find yourself falling victim to a bad case of food poisoning, getting an uninvited cockroach in your food or even getting hurt while diving in for that last piece of turkey. Unfortunately, accidents do happen at the worst possible times.
Even if you’re home alone, there is still a risk that you could injure yourself while cooking or eating your meal. Every year thousands of people suffer injuries as a result of unsafe practices during the Thanksgiving feast.