Every year, holidays are some of the busiest days in the emergency room. Thanksgiving consistently brings in many patients suffering from cuts, burns, and illness. To help prevent injuries and keep you and your loved ones out of the ER, our staff at Ally Medial share their best Thanksgiving safety tips.
- Make sure your knives are sharp before you start cooking. Dull knives are more likely than sharp knives to slip and cause a serious injury.
- Be cautious about food poisoning while cooking and serving your Thanksgiving meal.
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- Food should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours.
- Use a food thermometer to ensure all meat is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use separate cutting boards and knives for raw and cooked meat to prevent cross-contamination.
- Re-heat all leftovers to 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill bacteria that could make you sick.
- Take a COVID test if you’re feeling under the weather, especially if you have not received an updated booster shot or are spending time with immunocompromised loved ones.
- If you’re considering deep frying a turkey, maybe don’t! Cooking with deep fat turkey fryers can be very dangerous, often resulting in serious grease fires and burns.
- Don’t let the holiday festivities throw you off your normal routine–make sure you continue to stay healthy by getting regular exercise, managing your stress levels, and taking your prescribed daily medications if you need them.
Ally Medical operates seven emergency rooms in Texas with locations in Bastrop, Central and South Austin, Clear Lake, Dripping Springs, Round Rock, and Spring. All of our emergency rooms are open 24/7—including Thanksgiving—with little to no wait. Each Ally Medical Emergency Room is prepared to treat major and minor medical emergencies, including cuts, burns, and serious illness, for children and adults in a safe, stress-free environment!
