Are you ready for the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend? Will you be driving or staying at home? Regardless of your plans, we want to help you avoid some of the potential hazards that can ruin your holiday celebrations. Our New Orleans personal injury attorneys wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Burn Injuries

Cooking fires are three times as likely on Thanksgiving Day than other days of the year according to the NFPA. Leaving stoves, ovens, and fryers unattended is one of the common reasons for cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day. Make sure that you monitor appliances when you are cooking. Also, avoid wearing loose clothing that can catch fire while cooking or get caught on surfaces when moving hot foods. Hot foods can cause burns too! Be careful when handling pots and pans containing hot foods. It is a good idea to review the procedures for caring for a burn so that you know when to seek immediate medical assistance.

Injuries from Falls

Falls are another common injury during a holiday weekend. Whether you fall playing football with friends after dinner, while shopping, or at home while preparing for the holidays, it is important to see a doctor after a fall. Falls can cause severe injuries, including broken bones, spinal cord injuries, neck injuries, and brain injuries. Ignoring symptoms after a fall can result in long-term impairments.

Food-Bourne Illnesses

Improperly preparing a Thanksgiving Turkey and other items can result in a case of food poisoning. It is extremely important to practice safe food preparation and food service practices during the Thanksgiving Holiday. While most cases of food poisoning are mild, they can put a damper on your holiday celebrations. Furthermore, some cases of food poisoning can be life-threatening depending on the person’s health and the severity of the food-borne illness. It is wise to seek medical attention if food poisoning symptoms are severe or persist.

Alcohol-Related Injuries

Alcohol is a common part of Thanksgiving celebrations. However, you should be careful when serving or consuming alcohol. In addition to DUI accidents, injuries from falls and other alcohol-related accidents can cause severe injuries. Takes steps to be a responsible host when serving alcohol this Thanksgiving weekend.

Traffic Accidents

If you plan to be on the road over the Thanksgiving weekend, you will join millions of other Americans. Traffic is expected to be heavy during the holiday weekend, which could increase the risk of a traffic accident. When you combine the increase in the number of vehicles on the road with an increased risk of drunk driving accidents, being on the road during the Thanksgiving Holiday can be dangerous. Take steps to protect yourself and your family by avoiding peak driving times, decreasing your speed, avoiding fatigued driving, and avoiding all distractions while driving.

New Orleans Personal Injury Attorneys

If you are injured in a car accident, by a defective medical device, or by a dangerous prescription drug, we want to help. Call Attorney Fred Olinde of The Olinde Firm for more information and a free consultation by calling (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889.