How to Stay Out of the ER This Thanksgiving

The four most common Thanksgiving injuries and ailments are food poisoning, knife-related lacerations and injuries, burns, and alcohol-related injuries. The following tips will help families avoid these types of injuries so they can stay out of the ER this holiday season.

Preventing Food Poisoning on Thanksgiving

Food poisoning is a fast way to ruin a fun holiday. Raw meat, especially poultry, is often a culprit. The CDC recommendation is to cook the turkey at a minimum of 325 degrees while preparing stuffing outside of the bird to prevent cross-contamination. Also, starting with a fully thawed turkey and checking the meat with a meat thermometer will help reduce the risk of food-borne illness.

Preventing Knife Injuries

Throughout the year, one out of every 10 visits to the ER is due to knife injuries. This increases on Thanksgiving when many people are cooking large meals. To protect against these injuries, families can practice safe carving tips.

First, the best plan of action is to cave turkey or ham slowly. The carver can reduce the risk of injury by using a sharpened knife and paying close attention to the work. Additionally, children should be monitored to keep them from having access to sharp knives.

Protection Against Burns

Deep-fried turkey is becoming a Thanksgiving staple in many parts of the country, especially in areas with mild winters like Las Vegas. This holiday tradition should be fun, but it actually causes a lot of fires. In fact, cooking fires are more common on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year, and more than 1,000 fires happen every Thanksgiving due to deep fryers.

To protect against the risk of a house fire, families can consider using a safer method, like roasting or smoking, to prepare turkey. Deep frying is best done outdoors to reduce the risk of a serious fire. This job should take place away from the house and only a thawed, dry turkey should be used.

Alcohol and Injuries

Finally, families can avoid alcohol-related injuries and the need for a personal injury attorney in Las Vegas by avoiding drinking and driving or other risky behaviors. Alcohol consumption is common during the holiday, and alcohol was a factor in approximately 360 holiday deaths in 2013 alone.

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Joseph J. Wirth

Joseph J. Wirth is the founding senior partner of Mainor Wirth Injury Lawyers in Las Vegas, Nevada. Representing injured victims throughout the state, Joe has recovered millions on behalf of his clients and has earned his reputation as a highly-respected member of the legal community.

Years of Experience: More than 15 years
Nevada Registration Status Active

Bar Admissions: State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Advertising Advisory Committee, Member 2008-Present Nevada Justice Association, Associate Member 2007-Present Nevada State Bar, Associate Member 2006-Present American Association for Justice, Associate Member 2006-Present

author-bio-image author-bio-image
Joseph J. Wirth

Joseph J. Wirth is the founding senior partner of Mainor Wirth Injury Lawyers in Las Vegas, Nevada. Representing injured victims throughout the state, Joe has recovered millions on behalf of his clients and has earned his reputation as a highly-respected member of the legal community.

Years of Experience: More than 15 years
Nevada Registration Status Active

Bar Admissions: State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Advertising Advisory Committee, Member 2008-Present Nevada Justice Association, Associate Member 2007-Present Nevada State Bar, Associate Member 2006-Present American Association for Justice, Associate Member 2006-Present