Tips for a Safe Thanksgiving

As Connecticut residents prepare for the Thanksgiving Holiday with family and friends, the Connecticut State Police are preparing to implement plans for enhancement of enforcement and visibility on all of our highways and roads in Connecticut.

Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) is an intricate part of the highway safety plan.

The Connecticut State Police will supplement normal routine patrol personnel with additional troopers over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Troopers will patrol all roads and highways across Connecticut and focus on drunk driving and target aggressive speeding drivers and unsafe operation.  

Thanksgiving eve and day are two of the busiest traffic days of the year. Motorists need to remember, not to follow too close, to slow down, stay off your cell phone, buckle up while driving, and report any suspected drunk drivers to police. 

Troopers will staff sobriety checkpoints and conduct many targeted roving DUI patrols. Targeting DUI violators across the state throughout the entire weekend will enhance safety for all.

The Connecticut State Police are committed to reducing crashes and making our roads safe for everyone. Troopers will be looking for the violators that cause accidents on Connecticut roads and highways. Every effort to reduce accidents is being taken but, Connecticut residents are urged to be a part of the pubic safety solution. Residents should remind all young people, especially college students returning home the first time this semester, of the laws regarding alcohol consumption by underage people, and also drinking and driving dangers.  

Uniformed troopers will use non-traditional patrol cars to observe traffic and issuing tickets to reckless distracted drivers. A reminder to all drivers if you consume alcohol: never get behind the wheel.

“Your Connecticut State Police will work very hard to keep our Connecticut roads and highways safe," Commissioner Reuben Bradford said.  "Help us reduce accidents -- drive with extra caution this Thanksgiving holiday.  As we do our part through enforcement, please do your part by driving safely."

“At this busy time of year we urge parents to take the time and talk to their kids about the dangers of underage drinking,” said Colonel Danny Stebbins, Commander of the Connecticut State Police .

In addition to driving safe on Connecticut roadways, citizens are also reminded by the State Police Detectives assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office to be safe in their homes.

Cooking fires nearly double during the Thanksgiving Holiday. The following safety tips will help keep people safe:

• Keep your family and overnight guests safe with working smoke detectors in your home. Test smoke detectors monthly and replace batteries at least twice a year.  Remind your guests of your fire escape plan and designated meeting place for your home.
• Have a fire extinguisher available not more than 10 feet from the stove, on the exit side of the room.
• When cooking, do not wear clothing with loose sleeves or dangling jewelry. The clothing can catch on fire and the jewelry can catch on pot handles, causing spills and burns.  Try to cook on the back burners when possible and turn pot handles in so they don’t extend over the edge of the stove.
• Never leave cooking unattended. If you must leave the kitchen while cooking, turn off the stove or have someone else watch what is being cooked.  Keep small children out of the kitchen during cooking.
• Keep Thanksgiving decorations and kitchen clutter away from sources of direct heat.
• Candles are often part of holiday decorations. Candles should never be left burning when you are away from home, or after going to bed. Candles should be located where children will not be tempted to play with them, and where guests will not  accidentally brush against them. The candle holder and any surrounding decorations should be completely noncombustible.

With fire-wise common sense, you can make sure tragedy does not come between you and the Thanksgiving festivities you have planned.