Make Turkey Day a safe day

Louisiana’s special contribution to Thanksgiving Day menus is the deep-fried turkey.
That’s also a major source of safety concern.
Here are some safety tips from Acadian Ambulance for staying safe during the holiday.
Acadian Ambulance wants everyone to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving and holiday season. As you prepare for Thanksgiving and holiday travel, take extra precautions to make it a safe trip to your destination.
—Make sure your car is in proper working order before you hit the road
—Follow all travel signs and advisories, and check the weather conditions along your route.
—Don't text or scroll through social media while driving.
—Map your route in advance or use a hands-free navigation assistant, and be prepared for busy roads during the most popular times of the year.
—-If you're traveling with children, remind them not to talk to strangers.
—Have roadside assistance contact information on hand.
—In case of an emergency, keep a cell phone, charger and backup battery with you at all times.
In the kitchen, According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
—Frying a turkey? Set up the fryer on flat ground more than 10 feet from the house and keep children away. Have a fire extinguisher ready at all times.
—Make sure your smoke alarms are working — test them by pushing the test button.
—Keep electrical cords from a knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer safely tucked on the counter and away from children, stoves or the sink.
—Keep children away from hot stoves and ovens.
—Don’t leave the stove or oven unattended.
On the road
GasBuddy, the leading fuel savings platform saving North American drivers the most money on gas, today released the findings of its 2024 annual Thanksgiving Travel Survey, revealing that 72% of Americans plan to take a road trip over the holiday. This is a 75% increase from the 41% that planned to take a trip by car in 2023, amidst gasoline prices that have fallen to multi-year lows, including 29 states where average prices are currently below $3 per gallon.
After several years of pandemic-influenced travel changes, this year’s data shows a return to more traditional Thanksgiving travel plans, with 72% of respondents indicating they will be driving to their destination - up from just 41% in 2023, 38% in 2022, 32% in 2021 and 35% in 2020. This figure is closer to pre-pandemic levels, when 65% drove for Thanksgiving in 2019.
Looking ahead to the Thanksgiving travel period, GasBuddy forecasts that the national average gas price will be approximately $2.98 per gallon, down slightly from the current national average of $3.02 per gallon. Most survey respondents plan to start their Thanksgiving travel on Wednesday, 11/27, leaving in the early morning.
“Americans are eager to get back on the road and visit loved ones this Thanksgiving, with the vast majority choosing the flexibility and convenience of driving, as gas prices have fallen below $3 in over half of the nation's states,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “While a few travelers feel discouraged by current gas prices, our data shows most people are undeterred and willing to absorb the extra costs to reunite with family over the holiday. Gas prices have fallen nearly 70 cents from the summer high to their lowest level since 2021, and should provide some relief for Thanksgiving travelers.
"We expect prices to remain seasonally low leading up to the holidays, making road trips a more affordable option for millions of Americans.”
Other key findings from GasBuddy’s 2024 Thanksgiving Travel Survey include:
—Of those not traveling by car, 10% plan to fly and 87% are not traveling at all.
—The top reasons for not traveling include having nowhere to go (33%), high fuel prices (16%), and travel not being in their budget (19%).
—Most (60%) of those driving this year also drove last year, citing the flexibility of road trips (48%) and proximity to their destination (39%) as the primary factors.
—The majority (60%) expect to spend 1-6 hours in the car, with two-thirds (66%) driving more than 100 miles.
— 56% will be crossing state lines during their road trip, and 68% plan to use loyalty or cash back programs to save on fuel, including Pay with GasBuddy.
For more travel insights and money-saving tips, visit gasbuddy.com/go/blog.