Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Homeowners

Thanksgiving is a time for friends and family to gather together and reflect on everything they’re thankful for. It brings people from near and far to spend time with one another. But that can also makes for some chaotic times in the home as everyone prepares and socializes. With some careful planning and increased awareness, everyone can stay safer this holiday season.

  • Be mindful of parking.

If you’re having guests over, make sure you let them know ahead of time where they should park. Try to avoid blocking the street by having everyone park on one side and moving their car as far out of traffic as possible. If you know your neighbors will be away, ask if it’s okay for guests to park in their driveway; this can also boost safety for them by making it look like people are home.

  • Take time traveling.

If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, give yourself plenty of time to get there and be prepared for heavier traffic. Make sure that any food items you’re bringing along are tightly secured so they don’t spill or move about while you’re driving. If you plan on drinking during dinner or football, have a designated driver or limit your intake so you’re sober to safely drive home.

  • Pay attention to the stove.

The kitchen is where most of the action happens on Thanksgiving, and according to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving Day is the number one day for home cooking fires. Be mindful of the pots and pans you have on the stove so that nothing burns or boils over. Keep any pot holders, towels, linens, or other flammable objects away from the stovetop; don’t forget to watch for loose clothing and dangling hair around burners or candles as well!

  • Know how to respond to small fires.

Do you know how to put out a grease fire? Hint: It’s not with water! Use baking soda or a fire extinguisher instead. If something catches fire on the stove, turn off the heat and try to cover it with a lid if possible. If something in the oven catches fire, turn off the heat and leave the door closed. Always make sure you have a working fire extinguisher nearby and know how to use it, even if you don’t think you’ll have to.

  • Deep fry outdoors.

Planning on having some deep-fried turkey this year? Set up everything outside and away from your house and vehicles. Before dropping the turkey in, make sure it is completely thawed and dried off. Be very cautious to avoid splattering grease or starting a fire. Once again, have a fire extinguisher nearby and pay close attention to what you are doing. Never leave a frying turkey unattended.

Be safe this Thanksgiving and make it a memorable day for everyone. If you have questions about guests, parking, decorations, or other activities, reach out to your HOA for clarification. They can provide you with the answers you need or point you in the right direction. Contact Kuester today to learn more about how we can support your HOA.

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Bryan Kuester

Bryan Kuester

Bryan is the CEO of Kuester Management Group. He has over 15 years of managing community associations throughout North and South Carolina.

His specialties include Community Association Management - maintenance, budgeting for operational and reserve funding, long-range planning, covenant enforcement, amenity management, onsite management, large scale management.