by Kym Byrnes
11 Ways Thanksgiving Can (Almost) Kill You
Thanksgiving is all about indulging in food, fun, and family, but sometimes the holiday can take an unexpected turn for the dramatic. Whether it’s overeating your way into a food coma, navigating kitchen chaos, or dodging awkward dinner conversations, there are plenty of ways Thanksgiving can go hilariously—or dangerously—wrong. Before you dig into that second slice of pie, here are 11 ways Thanksgiving can almost take you down, and a few tips to keep things festive instead of fatal.
1 Turkey Overdose
Overeating that massive turkey can lead to significant discomfort, and an epic food coma might make you feel like you’re at death’s door. In a Carroll Hospital blog, Mindy Athas, R.D.N., a diabetes care and education specialist, offers some tips to help get through the calorie-packed day. She suggests building some exercise into your day, such as walking or hiking (like the YMCA’s Turkey Trot). Try reducing the amount of sodium and sugar when preparing food, or use healthier alternatives like reduced-sodium broth. Eat a regular breakfast so you’re not starving when the big meal rolls around. Plan alcohol consumption accordingly, as cocktails can drive appetite and fill your plate with smaller portions than your mind might be telling you to.
2 Choking Hazard
With all that feasting, taking too big a bite can easily happen. Choking on a too-large piece of turkey or an unruly morsel of stuffing could turn festive into frantic.
3 Turkey Day Fires
According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked second and third, with both days having nearly twice the daily average of home fires. So, while deep-frying a turkey might sound delicious, keep a close eye on the food as it cooks. Before cooking, test the fire alarms and keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
4 The Great Turkey Thaw
There was a time when the standard way of thawing meat was to sit it on the counter overnight. According to a blog on Carroll Hospital Center’s website, there are safer ways to thaw food to avoid the bacteria that can grow at room temperature. The blog recommends thawing food in the refrigerator, in the microwave, or by submerging it in cold water. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends thawing your turkey in the fridge, allowing one day for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey. For example, if your turkey weighs 16 pounds, it will take about four days to thaw.
5 Carving Calamity
That big, beautiful bird needs carving, but a knife slip could result in a trip to the ER. The American Society of Hand Therapists reports carving cuts are among the five most common Thanksgiving day injuries. Their experts recommend never cutting toward yourself and always placing the free hand on the opposite side you are carving toward. Also, cut in a well-lit and dry area, and make sure your knife handle stays dry while carving.
6 Alcohol Overload
A little holiday cheer is fine, but overindulging can lead to impaired judgment, accidents, or worse. A Washington Post article, “3 Rules for Staying Upright and Sociable for the Drinking Marathon That Is Thanksgiving,” offers some advice. It suggests starting slow and pacing yourself, not being the bartender (feeling the need to keep everyone’s glass full), and stepping away from your cocktail throughout the day by drinking sparkling water or soda.
7 Black Friday Madness
Heading out for Black Friday deals after your Thanksgiving feast? Beware of the chaos—crowd stampedes and parking lot brawls are genuine threats. Planning to do your shopping in the safety of your home? Be hyper-vigilant about purchasing gifts from reputable websites.
8 Stress-Induced Stroke
Hosting the perfect Thanksgiving can be stressful enough to raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels, increasing the risk of a stroke. The holidays can be stressful for many reasons, including time constraints, financial concerns, and family dynamics. Other factors that can increase the risk of stroke during the holidays include sleep deprivation, excessive alcohol consumption, inactivity, and overeating. How can you de-stress? If you’re hosting, delegate tasks and ask for help before and during the big day. Give up the fantasy of a perfect day and embrace the calamity that comes with family, football, food and alcohol. Try to make time for a walk or bike ride to start the day.
9 Travel Troubles
Thanksgiving is one of the year’s busiest travel times. The National Safety Council estimates that about 500 people died in car accidents during the 2023 Thanksgiving weekend. Whether you’re taking a car, train, or plane, plan and pack some stress-reducing remedies, as delays might be a part of the journey.
10 Leftover Lethality
Those Thanksgiving leftovers are tasty, but if they’re not stored properly, they can become a breeding ground for bacteria. According to the USDA, you should not leave food out too long. Refrigerate all perishable foods at room temperature within two hours of being cooked or one hour if the temperature is 90 degrees F. or above. After two hours, perishable food will enter the “danger zone,” temperatures between 40 degrees F. and 140 degrees F., which is where bacteria can multiply quickly and cause the food to become unsafe. Discard all foods left out for more than two hours. Thanksgiving leftovers are safe to eat for up to four days if stored in the refrigerator. In the freezer, leftovers are safely frozen indefinitely but will keep the best quality for two to six months.
11 Family Feuds
Heated political debates or long-standing family tensions can escalate, leading to verbal sparring or even physical confrontations that could ruin more than just the holiday. Psychology Today reports that there are three common reasons that families feud over the holidays: exhaustion, regression and overindulgence. Experts say you can work to avoid the drama by laying off the alcohol, avoiding the people or conversations that could stress you and taking a few deep breaths before reacting to something someone says or does.
