Thanksgiving is all about family, friends, and food. It is also a time to keep safety in mind as you’re having fun and creating great memories. ReadyWisconsin offers these tips to keep your holiday weekend safe.

On the road

Know before you go this winter season with the 511 Wisconsin Traveler Information System. By downloading the free 511 Wisconsin Smartphone app, following @511WI on Twitter, or visiting www.511wi.gov you can access these current statewide travel resources:

• Road conditions

• Travel times, traffic delays, incident alerts, and construction closures

• Traffic cameras

Keep your gas tank at half a tank of gas in case you are stranded or stuck and need to run your heater. Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle with candles and matches, a flashlight, pocket knife, snacks, a cell phone adapter, a blanket and extra clothing.

Fire danger

Did you know that Thanksgiving is the busiest day for home cooking fires? According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 67% of home cooking fires start when food or cooking materials catch on fire and more than half of home cooking fire injuries happen when people try to fight the fire themselves. There are some things to do to help prevent kitchen fires:
• The leading contributing factor in home cooking fires is unattended cooking. Make sure you frequently check on items on the stove or in the oven.
• Frying poses the greatest risk of fire. If using a turkey fryer, make sure you follow the manufacturer guidelines regarding appropriate use of the appliance.
• Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils and other items away from your stovetop.
• Keep children away from the stove.
• Make sure you have a fire extinguisher that has an “A”, “B” and “C” rating and test your smoke alarms to make sure they are working properly.
• Never leave lit candles unattended and consider using flameless candles.

Accidents Happen, Be Ready

Cooking-related burns are common at Thanksgiving. Save the butter for the rolls and not a burn. For superficial burns, cool the area by running cold water on the burn until the heat eases, then loosely cover the burn with a sterile dressing. Seek appropriate medical care.

For additional Thanksgiving safety tips, visit http://ReadyWisconsin.wi.gov. You can also check out Midwest road conditions and airport delays. Follow ReadyWisconsin on Facebook (www.facebook.com/readywisconsin) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/readywisconsin) throughout the year.