By Divya Kumar

With Thanksgiving right around the corner and COVID-19 vaccinations increasing in our region, I know many of us are looking forward to finally meeting friends and family we haven’t seen in a while. And while it may be tempting to go all out with food and festivities, it’s important to keep some safety tips on our minds so that our fun is not dampened with unhealthy consequences.

One: Drive safely. Thanksgiving is the biggest holiday for traveling by car. Here’s some things to keep in mind:

• Never get in a car intoxicated. That one hour you think you are saving by just hoping in could turn into a deadly or expensive car accident. It’s not worth it. Your loved ones will understand! After all, they want you alive and happy.
• Always wear a seatbelt. If you are curious, google “car crash survivors and seatbelts” and look at the images section; you will see some striking images of people who survived car accidents thanks to their seatbelts.
• If you are making a long drive and it’s been a while since you got your car checked out – especially if your car is making some weird noises – try to squeeze in a quick trip to your local auto shop. Go local if possible! You’ll be supporting small business owners and will have peace of mind.
• Be sure to fill up that tank. The weather is getting colder, and if you’re stuck in traffic, you’ll be happy you have some extra gas for the heating.
• Don’t forget toll money if you use cash, or check your EZpass account to  make sure you have enough so you don’t get surprises later.
• If you are flying instead of driving, pack your mask, hand sanitizer and some cough drops. People often get a sniffle or a cough around this time of the year and you don’t want to make other passengers uncomfortable.
• Whether you are driving or flying, check the weather before heading out. If you are flying to or from your destination, think about what you might do if there’s a storm and you get stranded at an airport and have to spend the night at a hotel.

Two: Be mindful of what you eat. It’s easy to go overboard for Thanksgiving dinner and wake up stuffed or sick. We only have one body, and if you haven’t gotten your blood work done in a year, or if you know you are prone to sugar or cholesterol problems, take an extra second before deciding if it’s worth it to have that third serving of turkey or that second serving of pie..

Three: Choose kindness. It’s not always fun and games when seeing family. Sometimes the people closest to us have difficulty accepting us as we are. Choose kindness and mindfulness and your heart will be closer to peace than if you choose to engage in a battle of words. All you can do is be yourself and spread your own version of love, kindness and peace. Sometimes, it’s better to change the topic and find talking points that are positive for both of you.

Four: Be mindful of fires. As we mention in our Holiday Safety Tips guide, “Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and Thanksgiving is the peak day for these tragedies to occur.” NEVER turn on the pan on high and pour in too much oil. If this unfortunate thing happens and there is an oil fire, NEVER put it out under the tap. Whatever kind of fire you get on the stove, grab a metal lid or a cookie sheet and slam it on the pan until the pan cools. (And turn off the heat, of course.) For a small fire, you can pour salt or baking soda over it.  As a last resort, use a Class B dry chemical fire extinguisher. If the fire won’t go out, get out, tell your family and friends to get out and call 911.

Five: Enjoy the small moments with your loved ones. If there is a small child in your midst, have a dialogue and teach them something. Small moments add up to lots of love.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!