Thanksgiving is a holiday known for chaotic but wholesome mornings spent cooking, followed by relaxing and enjoying food with friends and family and giving thanks for all that we are grateful.

But Thanksgiving, like any holiday, doesn’t come without its fair share of risks. (Look up “turkey frying gone wrong” on YouTube for some examples.) Thankfully, Nuvance Health-GoHealth Urgent Care Dr. Reed Idriss shared some details with Kingston Wire about how to stay safe next Thursday.

The tips Dr. Idriss provided include burn safety, how to properly cook a turkey along with other food and knife safety as well as staying healthy during flu season and preparing before engaging in any physical activity.

Cooking burns, Dr. Idriss says, amount for a large number of patients that come into urgent care on Thanksgiving. “It is good to run the burn under lukewarm or cold water. You don’t want to put it under ice cold water or have ice on the burn because it can damage the skin further.” He also added to make sure you look at the burn. If it’s beyond a few square inches in size or if it is charred, white, brown, leathery or shiny, these are all red flags that mean you may require medical attention.

Many people don’t know how to properly prepare a turkey for cooking, as many people grew up rinsing their turkey in the sink. This, Dr. Idriss said, actually increases the risk of contamination as pathogenic water can splash onto utensils and countertops. Instead, he recommends patting the turkey down with a paper towel. Beyond this, using a thermometer is essential when cooking your turkey. “The temperature must reach a minimum of 165 degrees, and this includes if stuffing is in it as well.”

Another food safety tip to note is that once you are done eating, the leftovers must be put away as soon as possible, as food that sits out for a while increases the risk of harboring bacteria. It’s common to feel lazy after a Thanksgiving feast, but it’s important to keep this in mind because it can lead to food-borne illnesses like salmonella and Clostridium perfringens — the “buffet germ” that grows at room temperature. If you do get sick and the illness is protracted, you must seek medical attention to prevent further infection, Dr. Idriss said.

Knife safety is another vitally important concern, as a third of all knife-related injuries happen in the kitchen. “It may seem counterintuitive, but making sure your knives are sharpened is important, because dull blades result in accidents.” Along with this, make sure your hangs and knife handle are clean and dry, and always cut away from your body.

Thanksgiving comes around during the start of “sick season,” when the number of those getting the flu and other illnesses increases. If you are hosting a gathering, there is a higher risk of spreading infections such as COVID-19, the flu or the common cold. “You can always suggest for people to do a rapid [COVID] test before they show up, and to use common sense,” Dr. Idriss said. “If people have cold symptoms, even mild ones, it would be best to stay home.” This is especially true if there are high-risk people attending the celebration.

By now we all know how to properly wash our hands, but it’s especially important to do so when in close proximity to many people during the holidays. Nuvance Health-GoHealth centers also offer PCR tests to anybody who wants to stay extra safe before attending a gathering.

Finally, after a big meal we all love to get outside and play a fun game of football or basketball, but this too doesn’t come without its fair share of risks. “People who are active throughout the year are less of a risk, but people who are intermittently active need to stretch beforehand and, in general, avoid alcohol before playing a pick-up game,” Dr. Idriss said. “It’s also important to do a cool-down afterwards as well, which will reduce strains or sprains.”

Despite all these possible hazards, Dr. Idriss said people should take it easy this T-Day. “Take some time to slow down, hit the pause button, reconnect with friends and family, and remember all the things we need to be thankful for,” he said. “We want to wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. The reality is that some people will get ill or injured, but we are happy and prepared to care for you and your loved ones. We stay open on Thanksgiving for this reason!”