A gathering of family and friends, sharing laughs and stories over an impressive food festival, Thanksgiving is undeniably one of the most popular holidays.  But it’s also one of the most popular days of the year, if not THE MOST popular day of the year for urgent care visits. Everything from food poisoning to burns to overindulging can bring the holiday to a close for many people.  We’re all about injury prevention here at the affordable clinics that make up the UrgentMED network. We want you to have a drama-free holiday, which is why we’re sharing this guide with you – Five Reasons for Thanksgiving Day Urgent Care Visits.

Knife Injuries Are Common on Thanksgiving

When you’re carving a turkey or chopping veggies, anything can go wrong. Knife injuries top the list and result in Thanksgiving Day urgent care visits. Be sure to focus on what you’re doing, and putting your bird on a non-skid cutting board also helps. If you are hurt while slicing your food, the walk-in clinics that make up UrgentMED network can help. We’ll treat you and have you back in time for dessert.

Alcohol Consumption

Is it really necessary to have both a glass of red and white wine? Thanksgiving presents the perfect backdrop for “social drinking” – even to a fault, with some people drinking too much, and ending up at urgent care. If you’re going to drink, be sure to also drink lots of water, which helps dilute the effect of alcohol. Do not drink and drive. Traffic fatalities involving alcohol increase tremendously during the holidays.

Don’t Overindulge on the Wrong Thanksgiving Foods

Do you get stuffed on Thanksgiving?  If so, you’re not alone. Many of us throw caution to the wind on Thanksgiving when it comes to our food choices, and the term “pigging-out” becomes the norm. But people with high blood pressure, diabetics, or even people with high cholesterol, for example, can easily over-indulge, triggering medical issues that can send them to urgent care.  People allergic to certain foods, can also “get caught up” in the day – many unknowingly devouring foods that trigger a major reaction. If you’re not sure what’s in a dish, ask the host about it. Be careful!

Don’t Get Burned

Not surprisingly burns are another culprit that keeps urgent care medical staffers busy on Thanksgiving.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), most home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving Day, and recommend you take the following precautions:

• • Never leave the stove unattended and always keep an eye on your dishes

• • Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing and keep flammables away from hot ranges or ovens

• • Keep children and pets away from hot stove tops

• • Turn pan handles to the back and away from the front of the range

• Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen

Be careful when using your turkey fryer. Many people get burned from misusing them. And as a precaution, do not overfill the oil or leave your turkey fryer unattended, and use the fryer outside and away from your home.

You can treat minor burns at home with a burn cream and loose bandage. But if your burn bubbles or blisters, it is a good idea to seek medical attention.

Food Poisoning is a Huge Culprit

Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, and more bacteria and viruses cause lots of illnesses, sometimes death.  Recently, Salmonella has been making the news cycles. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)  has linked a nationwide salmonella outbreak to raw turkey. Yes – turkey- the star of Thanksgiving, just a few weeks before it’s special day.

Salmonella Prevention

Here are some steps you can take to prevent Salmonella infection when handling your big bird, courtesy of the CPSC:

• • Thaw turkey in the refrigerator, not on the counter

• • Handle raw turkey carefully; always wash your hands after handling raw turkey

• Cook your turkey thoroughly – to an internal temperature of 165°F to prevent food poisoning

Keep an eye out for illness. People get sick from Salmonella 12 to 72 hours after swallowing the germ, which causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. If you experience these symptoms, get to an urgent care location near you, immediately.

UrgentMED is Here for You on Thanksgiving

We hope our guide helps you and your family stay safe over the holiday and beyond – with no medical emergencies. But if you need to make a Thanksgiving Day urgent care visit, we’re nearby. With 15 locations, UrgentMED is the largest comprehensive urgent care network in Southern California. We provide a wide variety of medical services: diagnostic testing, surgical and non-surgical procedures, and specialized care. We can help.  Here’s to a safe, enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday!