Top 10 Thanksgiving injuries...and how to prevent them
Mon, 11/19/2012
Press release:
Whether you deep fry the bird or stuff the turkey, cooking together for Thanksgiving is a family tradition. But that very tradition (cooking) is the #1 cause of accidents over the Thanksgiving Holiday.
That’s why urgent care centers like Doctors Express, the first ever national franchise of urgent care, expects a huge hike in patients over this holiday week.
Doctors offices are typically closed over weekends and you can wait for hours at the ER. Urgent Care centers like Doctors Express are open 7-days-a-week .
Here are the
Top 5 Thanksgiving Injuries (and Tips To Prevent Them):
• Burns
Avoid wearing lose clothes. A dangling sleeve can easily catch fire.
Make ovens a “Kid Free Zone”
Keep pot handles toward the back burners to reduce risk of knocking pots over.
• Food Poisoning
Wash hands thoroughly when handling uncooked meat and keep it separate from other food.
Oven temperature when cooking a turkey should be no lower than 325 degrees and the turkey should be completely thawed before cooking.
A food thermometer must register a safe minimum temperature of 165 degrees inside the turkey.
Best to cook stuffing outside the turkey in a casserole, but if you choose to stuff a turkey, make sure the stuffing also reaches a temp of 165 degrees.
• Cuts
Stay totally focused when slicing food
Don’t rush. Give yourself plenty of time to carve slowly .
Give the carving duty to the most experienced carver. No first timers allowed!
• Sprains, strains and fractures
People tend to eat and then immediately head out for that annual game of football, overexerting themselves. They can develop chest pain and shortness of breath which leads them to seek medical care.
Take a break after eating before you rush out to play sports
Remember, this isn’t the NFL and you are out to have fun, not win the Heisman Trophy or impress relatives and friends.
• Heartburn
many people eat too much, too fast on Thanksgiving which can quickly cause heartburn, indigestion and create chest pain. This can feel like a heart attack which leads people to seek medical attention.
Eat slowly
Take breaks in between courses
Keep antacids on hand