LongBeachMedia@longbeach.gov
Long Beach, CA – The holiday season is a time for festive fun and grateful gatherings with family and friends. The City of Long Beach is offering the following tips to ensure a safe, healthy and hazard-free Thanksgiving holiday for all.
Fire Safety
The rate of accidental residential fires increases every year during the holiday season, with home cooking fires being a common culprit on Thanksgiving. With Turkey Day being the leading day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment, here are some ways to limit fire hazards:
- The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends against deep-frying turkeys; if you decide to do so, follow safety recommendations, and never deep-fry a frozen turkey.
- Always stay in the kitchen while cooking; unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and casualties.
- Always keep children away from hot stoves as well as hot food and liquids as steam or splash could cause serious burns.
- Instead of using open-flame candles for a table centerpiece or in other home decor, use battery-operated candles.
- Remember to make sure all your smoke alarms are working.
Food Prep Matters
When cooking a turkey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that improper handling or undercooking the bird can spoil the holiday by leading to food poisoning and illness. From how to properly store a turkey to thawing, preparing, cooking and leftovers, the CDC offers guidelines to avoid poultry-related foodborne outbreaks.
Have a Healthy Holiday
The best way to ensure a healthy holiday is to stay up to date on flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. The Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) encourages residents to consider testing for COVID-19 before traveling or attending large gatherings with friends, families and loved ones, or after contact with someone who has the virus or when experiencing any COVID-like symptoms. The Health Department also recommends people continue to follow other common-sense COVID-19 and flu safety strategies, such as staying home when sick, avoiding close contact with those who are sick and frequent hand washing.
Safe Travels
As the holiday season approaches, it is especially important to note the importance of not driving while impaired or distracted. The Long Beach Police Department is committed to keeping our community safe and will increase its police presence throughout the city to help deter drivers from distracted driving and driving under the influence. DUI-related traffic collisions claimed the lives of three people in 2022 and four people in 2023.
The LBPD would like to share the following tips to help ensure drivers, pedestrians, and all commuters practice safe and responsible behavior:
- To prevent injury to yourself and others, designate a sober driver, or use a taxi or ride-sharing service to get to and from your destination. Remember that driving under the influence includes alcohol, marijuana, some prescription and over the counter drugs, and illegal drugs.
- Distracted driving poses serious threat to people’s safety. Plan routes in advance and avoid texting or otherwise using a cell phone while driving.
- Pedestrians and bicyclists should maintain strict awareness of their surroundings, especially at night and when crossing streets, even when crossing in a marked crosswalk.
In Case of Emergency
Community members are encouraged to report suspicious or illegal activity to the Long Beach Police Department. For emergencies, dial 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, people can dial the non-emergency phone tree at 562.435.6711.
The collective efforts of everyone celebrating safely can help achieve a safe Long Beach for all.
Media inquiries may be directed to the Office of Public Affairs and Communications at LongBeachMedia@longbeach.gov.