(800) 956-3728 
When you think of Thanksgiving, one of the first things that likely comes to mind is food. And that’s for good reason. From scrumptious pumpkin pie and sweet cranberry sauce to mouthwatering turkey and hearty stuffing, it’s almost impossible to walk away from the table feeling hungry.
What is possible during this holiday (you’d be amazed by the statistics), is an increased risk of fire or choking thanks to more cooking and eating. Here are a few things to think about before, during and after your feast.
Preventing a Fire
What started as a trend and has become a tradition in recent years is to deep-fry a turkey. Proponents say it takes less time to cook and that the meat is juicier. Preparing a turkey in this manner can be a dangerous proposition considering it requires vast amounts of hot oil, which can splash, spill, or combust. The National Turkey Federation and Butterball offer advice on how to properly and safely deep-fry your turkey.
To reduce the risk of a fire, don’t leave any food unattended while it’s in an oven, on a stovetop, or over an open flame. Cooking-related fires are reported more on Thanksgiving Day than any other time, according to the National Fire Incident Reporting System. One- and two-family dwellings see 63% of those turkey day fires, followed by multifamily houses at 32%.
Even the most careful and methodical cooks can have an accident. That’s why it’s important to ensure you have the right amount of homeowners or renters insurance on Thanksgiving - and every day of the year. Without it, even a small mishap could lead to expensive repairs for your damaged property.
Preventing Choking
The risk of choking during the holidays is something many people don’t think about - until it’s too late. Whether its conversing with loved ones who you haven’t seen in a while or an errant bone in your turkey, it’s easy to take your attention away from your chewing. Add alcohol to the equation and the problem becomes compounded.
If one of your guests appears to be choking and he or she is unable to speak, start by giving them five hard blows to the back. If that doesn’t clear the blockage, attempt the Heimlich maneuver until the food has been forced out. Call 911 if you can’t remove the obstruction.
Having Guest Medical Protection on your homeowners or renters insurance policy will help pay for any medical expenses your guests incur should you need to call medical personnel or take them to the hospital.
The greatest Thanksgiving tradition, aside from gorging on delicious food, is surrounding yourself with the people you love and reflecting on all that you’re grateful for in your life.
The Mercury Marketing Team is made up of professionals in the fields of Content Creation, Public Relations and Social Media. The team works together to deliver professionally written and researched content to provide information for consumers.