Thanksgiving is a much-anticipated holiday, with the promise of good food and quality time spent with family there is so much to be thankful for. However, if you’ve ever hosted the big meal, you know how much work and time goes into getting everything ready. Make the most of your holiday and stay safe this Thanksgiving with these helpful tips.

Fire Safety

  • Make sure your smoke alarms are working.
  • Never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
  • Move items that can burn away from the stove. This includes dishtowels, bags, boxes, paper, and curtains.
  • Keep a pan lid or a cookie sheet nearby. Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. This will put out the fire. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
  • Turn the pot handles to the back of the stove, so no one bumps them or pulls them over.
  • Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on. Check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving home to ensure all stoves, ovens, and small appliances are turned off.

Children Safety

  • Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot, and kids should stay three feet away.
  • Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy, or coffee could cause serious burns.
  • Keep knives out of the reach of children.
  • Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
  • Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
  • Never leave children alone in the room with a lit candle.

Pet Safety

  • If you decide to feed your pet a small bite of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well-cooked. Don’t offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.
  • Do not give your pet the left-over carcass–the bones can be problematic for the digestive tract.
  • Don’t feed your pet raw yeast bread dough. When a dog or cat ingests raw bread dough, the yeast continues to convert the sugars in the dough to carbon dioxide gas and alcohol causing bloated drunken pets.
  • Keep pet noses out of any batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.
  • While your family enjoys a special meal, give your cat and dog a small feast of their own. Offer them made-for-pets chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables, and dribbles of gravy.