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A big menu, gatherings of family and friends and the hustle and bustle of the holiday is a recipe for some misadventure. We analyzed data from government reports to find the most common Turkey Day troubles so you can take steps to avoid the worst.
Each year, Thanksgiving Day sees 2,400 building fires reported to local fire departments, according to a US Fire Administration report on Thanksgiving fires in residential buildings. That number amounts to 2.3 times more residential fires reported for the holiday than your average day.
Fortunately, Thanksgiving fire troubles don’t cause as much damage as other days, cutting the usual injuries, deaths and repair costs by over half. Most fires average $17,560 in damage, but a Thanksgiving fire whittles that down to $7,800.
Slow-roasted turkey with all the fixings might warm your kitchen with holiday cheer — or flames, since cooking is the top cause of Thanksgiving fires. Cooking causes 77% of fires that happen on the holiday, compared to 50% on other days.
Homeowners insurance is the most common way of insuring against cooking fire damage, guest injuries or any other accidents at home. You’ll pay the same home insurance deductible regardless of the cost of damage. If you’re renting and don’t have insurance, you might want a renters policy for more than just Turkey Day mishaps.
Looking to save Thanksgiving dinner instead? The new Whole Foods turkey insurance could pay for another bird if a fire blackens yours. That is, if you meet the criteria, like buying the store’s organic or classic whole turkey and sending a photo of your turkey blunder.
Since the offer’s limited to 1,000 claims, you might consider this an extra perk if you already want a Whole Foods turkey or the sale price is comparable to your usual store. But you might want a backup plan to feed your guests while you wait for your claim to be processed.
Since eating is Thanksgiving’s main event, it’s no surprise that food poisoning poses problems for the holiday. Avoid these common types of poisoning by following good food prep hygiene.
Clostridium perfringens causes nearly 1 million food poisoning cases each year, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Not familiar with C. perfringens? It’s the second most common cause of bacteria-related food poisoning.
What’s more, C. perfringens outbreaks happen most often in November and December, says the CDC in its “Food Safety Tips for Your Holiday Turkey” report.
Salmonella is also a Thanksgiving threat, with raw turkey products causing 356 illnesses in 42 states from 2017 to 2019. The cases were reported as an outbreak in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for November 22, 2019.
To make sure turkey fires or food poisoning won’t dampen your holiday, keep these Thanksgiving safety tips in mind:
While many celebrators spend Thanksgiving Day indoors cooking and catching up with loved ones, the day still poses holiday hazards. To keep everyone safe from kitchen fires or food poisoning, take safety precautions and keep home or renters insurance for any mishaps.
To bring you trustworthy, quality Thanksgiving safety stats, we gathered and analyzed data and reports from government agencies. Our sources:
Keep your holiday safe and snug from hanging lights to staying safe on the roads.
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