Enjoy Thanksgiving Day

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marc Lane
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  As Thanksgiving approaches, many will focus on what they're thankful for while enjoying great food with the people they care about; however, focusing on safety should be stressed as well. 

To prevent a Thanksgiving tragedy, the 28th Bomb Wing Safety Office offers the following tips. 

While preparing a holiday meal, distractions in the kitchen may pose hazards. To prevent confusion and crowding, only allow those who are preparing food into the kitchen and avoid wearing hanging jewelry or clothing with loose sleeves. 

To minimize the risk of burns and other injuries, use the rear burners whenever possible and point pot and pan handles back. If leaving the kitchen while cooking, turn off the stove or have someone watch it. 

"Proper food preparation is very important," said Staff Sgt. Travis Padgett, 28th Bomb Wing ground safety technician. "It won't matter how tasty the food is if it makes people sick."

To prevent cross-contamination be sure to start with a clean kitchen and separate cooked and uncooked foods, Sergeant Padgett said. 

In addition, washing your hands before and after handling food, especially after handling raw meat or raw eggs, is a simple and important way to prevent the spread of disease, he said. It is also important to wash all cooking surfaces and utensils before and after use. 

Food must be cooked to a safe internal temperature to kill any harmful bacteria; 180 degrees is the safe temperature for poultry, 160 degrees for pork, 145 degrees for beef cuts and 165 for ground meat, Sergeant Padgett said. 

For Thanksgiving frying has become a popular means of cooking a turkey, but requires caution. 

"Frying a turkey is a little trickier than putting one in the oven and presents unique hazards," said Staff Sgt. Aaron Coleman, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department fire prevention inspector. "Just use proper preparation and care." 

The fire prevention office provided some general tips for proper turkey fryer safety: 

- Never use turkey fryers on wooden decks, garages or indoors.
- Place fryers on a flat surface to prevent tipping.
- Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts.
- Never leave the fryer unattended.
- Do not overfill fryer.
- Ensure the turkey is completely thawed; water and oil doesn't mix.
- Monitor the temperature of the oil, if the oil begins to smoke, immediately turn off the fryer.
- Follow manufacturer instructions.
- Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. 

Choking can also be a potential hazard during Thanksgiving. Certain appetizers are difficult for children to chew adequately, keep these out of their reach unless supervised.
A happy holiday means safety for all family members, including pets. Do not be tempted to give pets any turkey or other human treats. According to the American Society for the 
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals website, animals have difficulty digesting rich holiday foods. Do not leave food unattended and secure any garbage. 

"The holidays afford us a special opportunity to get together with friends and family," said Col. Pete Castor, 28th Bomb Wing vice commander. "I encourage everyone to celebrate and enjoy one another's company, but also ask everyone to make a direct commitment to safety. Look out for one another and make smart decisions."