Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, fun, and, of course, food! While you’re celebrating the holiday season, don’t forget to remain vigilant about safety. Whether you’re leaving campus or enjoying a relaxing weekend in Ann Arbor, follow these quick tips for a safe and healthy Thanksgiving break.
Your Off-Campus Home
If you are leaving town for the long weekend, remember to shut and lock all of your windows and doors to keep unwanted visitors out. Be sure to turn off the lights and unplug electronic devices. This will reduce the chance of a fire while you’re away and lower your electric bill. Keep those pesky bugs out of your home by devoting 10-20 minutes to cleaning up, putting away your dishes, and taking out your trash. Otherwise, old dishes and trash will stink up your house or apartment and attract fruit flies and other pests while you’re gone. It is also very important to clean out your fridge! Don’t sour your return to campus by coming back to moldy bread and expired milk. This will also free up space in your fridge for any yummy holiday leftovers you bring back!
Transportation
Catching a flight at DTW? Be sure to secure a seat on the Michigan Flyer or consider CSG's AirBus. If you are leaving a vehicle on campus during the break, be sure to hide your valuables, lock your car, and take your keys with you. Anything that can be seen from the outside and deemed valuable is an incentive for someone to break into your car. Moving these items into your home reduces the chance of a break-in.
Pets
Unfortunately, the holiday season can be a dangerous time for many pets. Raw dough and cake/cookies batters can have deadly consequences and bones from the turkey can pose a choking hazard. Inquisitive pets often get into leftover trash which can make them sick. Be sure to check out the ASPCA’s list of people foods to avoid before you give your furry friend any Thanksgiving table scraps. When decorating in a pet friendly home, remember that some plants are toxic for dogs and cats. Check out the ASPCA’s list of poisonous plants for more information. Ensure a happy and healthy holiday for your extended furry family by keeping food off the ground, putting trash in a secure container, and only feeding your pets food that has the green light from their vet!
Cooking and Leftovers
When cooking, always remember to wash your hands! Thanksgiving cooking traditionally includes many raw ingredients like meat and eggs. Keep everyone safe and healthy by washing your hands thoroughly before and after handling food. Also, make sure you continue to clean cooking utensils such as knives and cutting boards in order to avoid foodborne illnesses like salmonella. If you are cooking a turkey, use a food thermometer to ensure the cooked turkey reaches the recommended 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the feast has ended, be sure to get the leftovers in the fridge within two hours to prevent bacteria from growing on the food. For more information, Federal Food Safety has some Thanksgiving tips on how to stay safe and well-fed over the holiday.
Have you seen the new and improved Division of Public Safety and Security website? For more safety information, visit dpss.umich.edu.
-Contributed by Isabella Jabra, Neighborhood Ambassador-Oxbridge