Thanksgiving preparedness can help make the holiday safer and less stressful.
Thanksgiving is a time for family, good food and traditions, but it can also bring crowded kitchens, busy highways and unpredictable weather.
A little Thanksgiving preparedness can help you handle the unexpected without spoiling the celebration.
Whether you are hosting dinner or driving across the state to see family, a few simple preparations can make the holiday safer and less stressful.
Waiting until Thanksgiving morning to prepare for problems is not a great plan.
Check the weather several days before you travel. Make sure your vehicle has enough fuel and basic emergency supplies. If you are hosting, check smoke alarms and fire safety equipment before cooking begins.
Charge phones and portable power banks. Make sure flashlights and emergency lanterns work.
These tasks take little time. However, they can make a big difference if the weather changes, the power goes out or another problem interrupts your plans.
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods of the year. If you are driving, prepare your vehicle before leaving home.
Check the tires, fuel, windshield washer fluid and basic vehicle condition. Keep your phone charged and tell someone when you expect to arrive.
A vehicle emergency kit can also be helpful. Consider carrying:
If winter weather is possible, add supplies that fit the conditions in your area.
Do not let a holiday deadline pressure you into driving in unsafe weather. Thanksgiving dinner can wait.
Thanksgiving brings plenty of activity into the kitchen. Pots are simmering, the oven is running and people are coming and going.
Stay near food while it is cooking. Keep towels, packaging and other items that can burn away from the stove.
Make sure children and pets cannot easily reach hot pans or cooking surfaces.
Keep appropriate fire safety equipment accessible, and make sure everyone knows where it is.
If you use a turkey fryer, follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions carefully. Never use an outdoor fryer inside a home, garage or other enclosed area.
A few minutes of prevention can help keep Thanksgiving memories focused on dinner instead of the fire department.
A power outage is inconvenient on any day. On Thanksgiving, it can become a much bigger problem.
Charge phones and portable power banks before guests arrive. Keep flashlights and battery-powered lanterns where you can find them easily.
An emergency radio can provide weather and local emergency information if internet or cellular service becomes unreliable.
If the electricity goes out, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Opening them repeatedly allows cold air to escape.
Have a backup plan for lighting and communication. If outages are common in your area, think about how you would safely manage cooking and heating as well.
Late November weather can change quickly in many parts of the country.
Rain, snow, ice, high winds and sudden temperature drops can affect travel and electrical service.
Check forecasts before guests leave home and again before they head back. A weather radio can provide another way to receive warnings when severe weather threatens.
If conditions become dangerous, changing travel plans may be safer than trying to stay on schedule.
Your Thanksgiving plans can be adjusted. Safety comes first.
A house full of people changes the normal routine.
Keep hallways and exits clear of shoes, bags and other clutter. This is especially important when older adults, young children or people with limited mobility are visiting.
Make sure stairs and entryways are well lit.
If someone has medications or medical needs, make sure those supplies remain easy to reach.
Guests who stay overnight may also benefit from knowing where flashlights, exits and basic emergency supplies are located.
Guests, food and open doors can make Thanksgiving confusing for pets.
Keep pets away from hot cooking areas. Make sure they cannot slip through a door as guests arrive or leave.
Keep leashes, carriers and pet emergency supplies where you can reach them quickly.
Holiday foods can also create problems for pets. Avoid giving animals unfamiliar foods simply because everyone else is enjoying a feast.
If you are traveling with a pet, bring enough food, water, medications and other supplies for the entire trip. A few extra servings are useful in case travel is delayed.
You do not need to turn Thanksgiving dinner into a disaster drill.
Simply make sure important supplies are easy to reach.
A useful Thanksgiving preparedness setup might include:
Many of these items are useful throughout the year, not just during the holidays.
The goal of Thanksgiving preparedness is not to worry about everything that could go wrong.
It is exactly the opposite.
When basic preparations are already handled, you can spend less time worrying about weather, power outages or forgotten emergency supplies.
Check your vehicle. Prepare your kitchen. Charge your devices. Watch the weather. Think about your guests and pets.
Then enjoy the holiday.
Because Thanksgiving should be about the people around your table — not the emergency you weren’t ready for.
A little preparation today can make a big difference tomorrow.