Why Thanksgiving is the most dangerous holiday in America

Americans know how to celebrate – big.  

‘Go hard or go home’, something of a national motto since it was coined in the 90s by an ad for a motorcycle company in southern California, comes to mind.

So it’s appropriate that Thanksgiving, arguably the most important family holiday in the US annual calendar, happens to be one of the most hazardous of the year.  

Without fail, the fourth Thursday of November sees peaks of car accidents, fires, food poisoning and emergency visits for overdoing it on the food, booze or both.

With a lethal cocktail of enough days to travel, enough alcohol for a small village, a notoriously arduous bird to cook, and more, it seems danger is lurking around every corner.

But there are ways to protect yourself. 

We spoke to the experts who have to deal with this year on year for their top tips on how to give your thanks in the safest way possible.  

Daily Mail Online reveals four Thanksgiving health hazards that you should be aware of, and how you can avoid them to have a safe and happy holiday (file image) 

1. MOST HOMES FIRES OCCUR ON THANKSGIVING DAY 

Thanksgiving Day is by far the peak day when it comes to home cooking fires. 

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are three times more home fires on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year.

Statistics show that in 2015, fire stations responded to about 1,760 home cooking fires. 

Unattended cooking is by far the leading cause and, when it comes to cooking equipment, deep fryers are the biggest culprit.

‘When you fry a turkey, the moisture from the turkey could cause the hot oil to overflow, which can cause fires and burns,’ Jim Bullock, president of NY Fire Consultants, told DailyMail.com.

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are three times more home fires on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are three times more home fires on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year

And while putting the deep fryer outside can help prevent a fire, Bullock says you should keep it far away from your house because, if the oil flares up, your home can catch on fire.

Additionally, because most fryers are not equipped with automatic thermostat controls, the oil can overheat and cause a combustion.

Bullock, a retired deputy chief who served on the FDNY for 30 years, says there are several scenarios that can cause blazes, including extension cords for a hot plate overheating or drapes accidentally catching on fire from the stove.

‘I don’t remember specific incidents but there were always calls that we were answering on Thanksgiving . More house fires occur on Thanksgiving that any day of the year.’ 

2. MORE FATAL CAR ACCIDENTS OCCUR ON THANKSGIVING

Over Thanksgiving weekend, millions of Americans will hit the road so they can celebrate the holiday with their loved ones.

Last year, there were a record 45.5 million people on the roadways. But this means a greater potential for car crashes.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association  Thanksgiving is the deadliest holiday when it comes to vehicle accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association  Thanksgiving is the deadliest holiday when it comes to vehicle accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHSTA), Thanksgiving is the deadliest holiday when it comes to vehicle accidents.  

Every year, nearly 400 people are killed and close to 50,000 people are injured. 

However, there were many fatalities in which taking basic safety precautions could have saved lives.

According to the NHSTA, in 2015, 53 percent of Thanksgiving road fatalities were caused by people not wearing their seat belts.

Additionally, between 2012 and 2016, more than 800 people died over Thanksgiving weekend in car crashes where alcohol was involved.  

‘Dangerous actions such as speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence are still putting many Americans, their families and those they share the road with at risk,’ said NHTSA Deputy Administrator Heid King in a statement. 

‘Additionally, we must address the emerging trend of drug-impaired driving to ensure we are reducing traffic fatalities and keeping our roadways safe for the traveling public.’  

3. STUFFING IN A TURKEY CAN CAUSE FOOD POISONING

Stuffing inside a turkey is an old Thanksgiving tradition that millions of Americans still follow.

However, deciding to cook your stuffing in your bird instead of in its own dish could be dangerous.

The US Food and Drug Administration recommends that poultry reaches an internal temperature of 165F to kill any bacteria.

However, this changes when it comes to stuffing.

Raw juices containing bacteria are absorbed by the stuffing when it’s packed into the turkey’s cavity.

‘Once you do that, that stuffing also has to get to a temperature of 165F,’ Martin Bucknavage, a senior food safety extension associate in Penn State’s food science program, told DailyMail.com.

The stuffing will cook slower than the turkey so, by the time the stuffing reaches that desired temperature of 165F, your turkey will be overcooked.

Cooking stuffing inside a turkey can lead to food poisoning because, when you take your turkey out after it reaches 165F, the stuffing could still be undercooked (file image)

Cooking stuffing inside a turkey can lead to food poisoning because, when you take your turkey out after it reaches 165F, the stuffing could still be undercooked (file image)

But if you have a perfectly-cooked turkey and ‘raw’ stuffing, this could lead to a food-borne illnesses.

‘Your bird will get to a much higher temperature than you like and you’ll see your turkey is getting overcooked,’ said Bucknavage.

‘[People are] focused so much on the turkey temperature, that you’ll have undercooked stuffing and that how’s you can get sick.’   

He says the solution for this is simple: cook your stuffing in a separate pan and, if you really want to stuff your turkey for presentation, do it after the bird is cooked.

‘We hold 15 to 20 food safety classes per year and at least one person raises their hand when we ask if they’ve gotten sick,’ said Bucknavage.

‘Just last week, two people raised their hands and said they’d gotten sick from salmonella in poultry-related incidents.’

Bucknavage also stresses buying a thermometer to make sure you’re not eating any undercooked meats on the big day.

4. PETS CAN CHOKE ON TURKEY BONES

A pet that accidentally swallows a turkey bone could suffer from intestinal blockage, organ punctures or constipation to small bone chips (file image)

A pet that accidentally swallows a turkey bone could suffer from intestinal blockage, organ punctures or constipation to small bone chips (file image)

Thanksgiving is not just a dangerous holiday for humans, but also for pets.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends not feeding your pet any traditional Thanksgiving foods. 

‘In my 33 years of practice, you get one or two calls from owners whose dog got into the wrong thing at Thanksgiving,’ Dr John de Jong, president of the AVMA, told Daily Mail Online. 

Fatty foods, such as turkey skin, are difficult for pets to digest and can lead to upset stomach, nausea and diarrhea. 

Additionally, many foods that are considered healthy for humans are actually poisonous for cats and dogs, including garlic, grapes, onions, raisins and dark chocolate.  

The AVMA also warns that if your pet accidentally swallows a turkey bone, there are a number of problems that can result including intestinal blockage, organ punctures or constipation to small bone chips.

‘Bones can splinter and cause lesions in the mouth, esophagus or digestive tract,’ Dr de Jong said.

If you think your pet may have eaten something they should not have, call your veterinarian, your local animal hospital or the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435.  



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