Holiday safety tips to remember

Nov. 27--Family and friends will be coming together Thursday to celebrate the honored tradition of things to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving is more than enjoying delicious food, it is about spending time with loved ones. In order to make sure Thursday turns out to be a joyous occasion, people are once again reminded to take safety measures into consideration whether they are hitting the road or staying at home.

With weather conditions far from ideal for travel with a winter storm hammering the state, the Texas Department of Public Safety is encouraging people to practice safe driving during this holiday weekend.

"Holiday travel can be especially challenging because of congested roadways, added distractions and fatigued or drunk driving -- all of which can lead to tragedy," said DPS Director Steven McCraw. "DPS will be working hard to keep our roads safe during the Thanksgiving holiday, and we're also counting on everyone traveling throughout the state to do their part by driving responsibly."

Law enforcement agencies will be patrolling the roadways throughout the weekend to promote safety and look for dangerous drivers.

During Thanksgiving weekend last year, DPS troopers arrested 386 individuals for driving while intoxicated, issued more than 7,500 speeding citations, 875 citations for no insurance and more than 770 seat belt/child safety seat citations. DPS patrols also resulted in 258 fugitive arrests and 211 felony arrests during the same time period.

DPS offers the following tips for safe travel during the Thanksgiving holiday:

--Don't drink and drive. Designate a driver or take a cab.

--Eliminate distractions, including the use of mobile devices.

--Buckle up everyone in the vehicle -- it's the law.

--Slow down -- especially in bad weather, construction areas and heavy traffic.

--Slow down or move over for police, fire, EMS and Texas Department of Transportation vehicles and tow trucks that are stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated -- it's the law.

--Don't drive fatigued.

--Drive defensively, as holiday travel may present additional challenges.

--Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained before your trip begins.

Motorists can reduce their risk of an accident by knowing some winter weather driving tips and practicing a few road safety habits, such as planning ahead, and being aware of alerts and advisories in your area. Winter road preparedness includes the following:

--Stay tuned to local news, road closures, changing conditions and weather alerts.

--Check online highway conditions information at www.DriveTexas.org.

DriveTexas is mobile friendly and a great tool that offers real-time road conditions, traffic and weather feeds. Travelers can also call TxDOT's highway conditions line at (800) 452-9292 for routing and trip-planning information.

Another thing people need to keep in mind during Thanksgiving is cooking safety tips.

"The main thing people need to remember is to pay attention to what you are doing," said John Waldo, the city of Huntsville emergency management coordinator. "If you are cooking then cook. Don't watch TV, play video games or talk on the phone. If you have to go somewhere, turn the stove off and remove the pot from the burner. Stay in the area until it has cooled off then you can go where ever you need to go."

Waldo also said to keep a fire extinguisher readily available in the kitchen. Have a 3-feet radius around the stove and if there are children in the house, put pots with handles on the back burners and turn the handles in a position kids cannot reach them.

"Stay focused when cooking," Waldo added. "You also need to make sure you have working fire alarms in each room and that you have at least two ways to exit your home in case a fire does break out."

The National Fire Protection Association offers the following holiday cooking safety tips:

--Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.

--Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.

--Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay three feet away.

--Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.

--Keep the floor clear so you don't trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.

--Keep knives out of the reach of children.

--Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.

--Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children -- up high in a locked cabinet.

--Never leave children alone in room with a lit a candle.

--Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

Frying has also become a popular method of cooking turkeys during the holidays. Here are a few more safety tips to remember:

--Always use a turkey fryer outdoors, away from anything combustible or flammable.

--Never use a turkey fryer in a garage, under a shed or on a wooden deck.

--Always place turkey fryers on a flat surface to reduce the possibility of tipping over.

--Never leave your fryer unattended.

--Never let children or pets near the frying unit.

--Do not overfill the pot. Follow manufacturer's guidelines.

--Be sure your turkey is thoroughly thawed before placing it into the hot oil.

--Use oven mitts to prevent burning your hands.

--Have a portable fire extinguisher handy or ready to use if needed. Dial 911 if there is a fire.

--If the weather is forecasting rain or snow, consider scrapping the entire frying option, as water and hot oil do not mix.

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(c)2013 The Huntsville Item (Huntsville, Texas)

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