Kitchen Safety:

Food is a huge part of the holiday season, and with so many dishes being made or with multiple people moving around a crowded kitchen, it can be easy to have accidents in the kitchen. To help prevent this:

• Keep a fire extinguisher handy
• Try to limit the number of people moving in the kitchen
• Keep your knives sharp. The easier it cuts, the safer it is
• Use oven mitts when handling any hot pans

Foodborne Illnesses

Nobody wants to deal with the consequences of an undercooked turkey. Foodborne illnesses are very common around the holidays, and following proper food safety can help prevent some unwanted illnesses.

• Make sure your meat is cooked to the proper, FDA-approved temperature (cook poultry to at least 165°F) 
• Don’t leave food out for more than 2 hours

Decorating and Household Accidents:

Whether Christmas lights, decorating the tree, or unwanted power surges from too many plugins, keeping safety in mind while preparing for the holidays is essential.

• Make sure to use a proper-height ladder for hanging lights (or hire someone else to do it)
• Use shatterproof ornaments 
• Use power strips to help prevent power surges

Stress

Less commonly recognized, though probably the most dangerous if realized, is the stress that the holidays can put on our bodies and minds. Heart attacks increase by 37% around Christmas Eve and 15% overall around the holiday season. 

• Get rest
• Avoid overindulgence in food and alcohol
• Don’t ignore chest pain