Safety Topics for November

Depending on where you are, the month of November can be rigidly cold or pleasantly cool. Whatever the case, it's important to consider safety around this time of the year. Keep in mind that November is a month when many people prepare for the holidays, so that means you'll want to be cautious of things like fire, food and driving safety.

Fire Safety

• Many people celebrate Thanksgiving in November, and Thanksgiving in most cases means cooking all kinds of food. When preparing food, make sure to keep an eye on the microwave, stove top, and oven to prevent a fire. It's best to cook your meat while you're awake and can monitor the food instead of cooking it all night long while you sleep; doing so is a beneficial preventative measure that ensures safety.

  If you live in a cold climate and like to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday sitting around a fireplace in your home or a fire outside, you want to be careful as well. Whether it's a holiday or not, never leave a fireplace or fire burning without the supervision of an adult. Also, keep flammable objects like paper or clothing away from the fire. If children will be around the fire, explain to them the dangers of trying to touch or throw things into the fire.

Food Safety

• If you're tempted to cook your Thanksgiving feast just a tad faster for your hungry dinner guests, think again. Undercooked food, especially meat, can cause severe illness like Campylobacter or food poisoning. According to MedicineNet.com Campylobacter is most often spread by contact with raw or undercooked poultry. So you'll want to make sure that each time a cook handling food, he washes his hands before and after handling it.

  It may also be wise to ask about any food allergies a guest or guests have that you don't know about. Some people are allergic to things like peanuts or milk, so make sure before making a dish using peanut oil or a dessert using milk.

Driving Safety

• If you don't live in a cold climate you may not have to consider the weather during the month of November, but you'll probably have to consider the traffic of people coming in and out of town for the holiday season. Drive carefully, abiding any traffic signal or signs and watch out for pedestrians.

  If you do live in a cold climate you should consider other drivers as well as weather conditions like snow, sleet, rain or ice. Don't rush in bad weather conditions (or normal weather conditions for that matter) so that you protect yourself from the increased chance of getting into an accident because of such weather and road conditions.

Cold and Flu

• According to a New York Times article the flu, "Is more stable and stays in the air longer when air is cold and dry." November can be a cold and dry season for some states, causing people to get sick with a cold or the flu. Keep your mouth covered with a tissue when you have to cough or sneeze, and wash your hands thoroughly and consistently so you don't spread cold or flu.