NOVEMBER 25, 2015  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This is one of my favorite holidays of the year, not just because it’s a time to celebrate with friends and family, but because there’s such an amazing outpouring of support from communities all over the state to help those in need!

Rep. Tarr with Food Bank of Alaska volunteers at the Thanksgiving Blessing event at the 
Mt. View Boys and Girls Club –We gave out more than 2500 meals to those in need.

Thanks to all the awesome volunteers that helped at the Pop Up Feed the Homeless Show.

Along with the holiday cheer comes some safety concerns with everyone traveling long distances and people’s kitchens working double overtime to get those meals ready. Here’s a few helpful safety tips from the Red Cross:

TRAVEL SAFETY: If plans include driving, travelers should check the weather along their route and plan for travel around any storms that may be coming. Everyone should use their seat belts and no one should drink and drive. Drivers should be well rested and alert and give their full attention to the road – no cell phones. Other driving safety tips include:

• Follow the rules of the road – observe the speed limit.
• Use caution in work zones.
• Make frequent stops. During long trips, rotate drivers.
• Don’t follow another vehicle too closely.
• Clean your headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows to help you see, especially at night.
• Turn your headlights on as dusk approaches, or if you are using your windshield wipers due to inclement weather.

COOKING SAFETY: Cooks should avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while preparing the holiday meal. Never leave the stove unattended – if the cook has to leave the kitchen even for a short time, they should turn off the stove. More cooking safety steps are:

• Check food regularly.
• Use a timer as a reminder that the stove or oven is on.
• Keep children and pets away from the cooking area.
• Keep anything that can catch fire - pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains—away from the stove, oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.
• Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.
• Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen.
• Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all stoves, ovens, and small appliances are turned off.

Did you know the Red Cross has an APP? Actually they have a wide variety of them, from Emergency Preparedness to Pet First Aid. Go to http://www.redcross.org/prepare/mobile-apps and get Red Cross information at your fingertips.

Sincerely,

Representative Geran Tarr