CHICAGO, IL (WKZO AM/FM) — Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA is offering up these safety tips for smart travel, cooking, decorating, and heating during holiday celebrations.
- Be a prepared traveler. Check travel restrictions, and get a flu shot before travel. Always wear a mask in public settings and wash hands often. For travel outside of the state, understand what the requirements are for isolating or quarantining when upon arrival and return, and then plan accordingly. Drivers should have an emergency supply kit in their cars.
- Protect against home fire risks. Put working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of the home and inside and outside sleeping areas. Change the batteries in these alarms twice per year, or per manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Practice smart cooking. Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so they won’t get bumped. Clean cooking equipment after each use—crumbs in a toaster or grease on the stove can catch on fire.
- Heat home safely. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from fireplaces, wood stoves, portable heaters and radiators. Before leaving a room or going to bed, turn heaters off or unplug them.
- Decorate with care. Nearly half of holiday decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source. Think about using battery-operated flameless candles this season. If that isn’t an option, place candles at least 12 inches away from anything that burns and ensure they cannot be reached by children or pets. Inspect holiday lights before you put them up and throw away light strands with frayed or pinched wires. Be sure to water live trees daily.
For more readiness tips, visit www.ready.gov, www.cdc.gov, www.usfa.fema.gov.
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