This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Thanksgiving Safety Tips from Silver Cross ER Doctor

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment.

Even with the best plans, accidents can still happen.

 

Find out what's happening in Shorewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“For a superficial burn, cool the area by running it under cold water until the heat eases and then loosely cover the burn with a sterile dressing,” explains Dr. Heather Taras, emergency medicine physician at the Silver Cross Free-Standing Emergency Care Center located at 143rd St. and Bell Rd in Homer Glen. “And for more severe burns, get to an Emergency Room immediately to seek the correct burn treatment to avoid infection and scarring.”


To help prevent home fires this Thanksgiving, the NFPA suggests these following tips:

Find out what's happening in Shorewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

•  Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.

 

•  Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.

 

•  Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away.

 

•  Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.

 

•  Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.

 

•  Keep knives out of the reach of children.

 

•  Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.

 

•  Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.

 

•  Never leave children alone in room with a lit a candle.

•  Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

 

•  Have activities that keep kids out of the kitchen during this busy time. Games, puzzles or books can keep them busy. Kids can get involved in Thanksgiving preparations with recipes that can be done outside the kitchen.

 

•  And be prepared to protect yourself from a fire by keeping a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it. Read the directions carefully before an actual emergency occurs.

 

Emergency Care Nearby

Even with the utmost caution, Thanksgiving-related injuries can still occur.  It is good to know peace of mind is just minutes away at the Silver Cross Emergency Care Center located at 143rd and Bell Rd. in Homer Glen.  Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the Center is staffed with Silver Cross Hospital’s board certified emergency medicine physicians and nurses. For more information, call (708) 364-6004.

 

Located in the same building is the Silver Cross Health Center offering MRI, CT, X-ray, Ultrasound, EKG and laboratory services. A physician’s order is required. To schedule an appointment for a test, call (815) 300-7076.  There are also several primary and specialty physician offices and The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross. For a referral to a physician at the Homer Glen medical center, call 1-888-660-HEAL or visit www.silvercross.org

 

About Silver Cross Hospital

Silver Cross Hospital is a not-for-profit health care provider serving Will County and southwest suburban communities since 1895. Silver Cross has been recognized as a Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals National Award winner for seven consecutive years and as a Hospital of Choice by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers. With over 3,500 employees, physicians and volunteers, Silver Cross operates a 289-bed acute care hospital and 9 satellite facilities providing outpatient services and physician offices. Silver Cross opened a state-of-the-art replacement hospital on February 26, 2012 at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox. To learn more about Silver Cross Hospital or a referral to a physician on staff, visit www.silvercross.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325). 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?