Thanksgiving and other holidays are fast approaching, which often means an increased risk of injury opportunities on the road, in the kitchen and in the yard.

Dr. Otto Susec at St. Vincent Evansville, said some of the most common injuries treated in the emergency room are from car accidents, cooking, playing outdoor sports like football and putting up holiday decorations. St. Vincent Evansville is part of Ascension, the nation’s largest nonprofit health system and the world’s largest Catholic Health system.

There are nearly 38,000 unintentional motor vehicle deaths in the U.S. per year, according to the most recent data from The Centers from Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, Thanksgiving is the most common day for home cooking fires to occur, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Here are 4 safety tips to keep in mind as you prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday:

1. In the kitchen: Watch out for burns and wear proper clothing to protect yourself. If you’re frying a turkey, cook it outside and wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants. Never attempt to deep fry a frozen bird.
2. On the road: Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination to avoid speeding and feeling rushed. Don’t drive while tired.
3. In the yard: Some families like to through the football around before turkey time. Pace yourself and be weary of sprains, strains and fractures.
4. Up on the ladder: Falls on ladders happen frequently so make sure it is on a flat, dry and even surface. Don’t overreach and support the ladder at its base, either with another person holding it in place or by driving a stake into the ground at the base.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTO CAPTION: State Rep. Holli Sullivan (R-Evansville) (left) receives the 2017 Indiana Chamber Legislative Champion award from Mark Lawrence (right), vice president of engagement and innovation for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, at the Hyatt Regency in Indianapolis. Sullivan was recognized for her work as a co-author of a law expanding pre-K education to low-income Hoosier families.

his year’s Gobbler Gathering will serve as the Evansville Rescue Mission’s 95^th annual Thanksgiving food basket giveaway for Tri-State families and will take place at the Old National Events Plaza (715 Locust Street, Evansville, IN 47708) for the first time ever.

At Tuesday’s Gobbler Gathering, literally thousands of folks will visit the Rescue Mission’s main campus as a food basket recipient, a Mission staff or Board member, a community volunteer, or as a curious bystander. 

ERM is fully anticipating  that more than 1,700 Tri-State families will be attending one of five distribution services (which will be held at 10 a.m., Noon, 2, 4, and 6 p.m.) to hear a message of hope and receive a food basket filled with Thanksgiving-themed items; particularly, a frozen 10-13 pound turkey, bagged potatoes, bagged onions, fresh celery, flour, corn meal, a loaf of bread, canned corn/green beans/peas/chicken broth/yams/cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, cake mix, Jiffy cornbread mix, egg noodles and macaroni & cheese.

 

Additionally, with the help of community volunteers and Evansville’s TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, the Mission will deliver 358 grocery sacks of Thanksgiving-themed food to neighboring downtown Evansville apartment communities such as Kennedy & Buckner Towers, Liberty Terrace Apartments, Horizon Homes, Lucas Place II, and Vision 1505.

 

That being said, ERM is fully anticipating being able to assist a total of 2,202 Tri-State families (an organizational record) for this year’s Gobbler Gathering.

 

Of course, Gobbler Gathering Day will not be a success without the help of more than 1,200 scheduled community volunteers who will either assist Rescue Mission staff with registration, transfer food from our pallets into baskets, or lend a helping hand toward our food basket recipients.

 

More than 200 Tri-State churches, schools, businesses and families donated an assigned food item or a needed service to ensure the 95^th annual Gobbler Gathering can take place.

In addition to distributing food, community volunteers will be handing out coats and accessories to any children who may be in need of warmer clothing on Gobbler Gathering day in lieu of the Evansville Rescue Mission’s “Coats For Kiddos” program.

Tracy Gorman, Evansville Rescue Mission’s President/CEO, states, “The Gobbler Gathering is one of our favorite days of the year, because it literally is a day that would not be possible without the kindness and generosity of our great friends throughout the Tri-State. As we gather with over one thousand volunteers to assist a record number of families, we’re again reminded of how blessed we are to be a part of this community.”

The Evansville Rescue Mission gladly accepts monetary donations for the Gobbler Gathering.  Gobbler Gathering contributions can be mailed to ERM at 500 E. Walnut St., Evansville, IN 47713 or by visiting our website, www.evansvillerescuemission.org. 

For additional information on the Evansville Rescue Mission’s annual Gobbler Gathering, please contact Chris-Michael G. Morrison at 812.962.6701 or at chris.morrison@ermstaff.org.