Stuffed and stoked for Thanksgiving

Want to come through the Thanksgiving Holiday unscathed? Watch out for the three dangers of Thanksgiving.

Number 1- Holiday Travel-Motoring to friends and relatives can put you at risk for wrecks and a wrenched back or neck. Avoid unneccessary distractions while you drive. Keep your cellphone, I-Pod and other electronic devices with a non-driving companion. If you are driving alone, wait until you are stopped to use them. Anticipate that other drivers will not be paying attention to the road. Give them plenty of space, and use your signals when changing lanes. If you do get in a wreck, move your vehicle to safety as soon as possible. If you suffer injury- get medical/chiropractic attention soon. Ice or heat to injuries? When in doubt-Chill it out! Ice decreases inflammation and swelling that commonly accompanies spine and joint injuries.

Driving long distances creates poor posture and too much pressure on the spine which can lead to back pain and stiffness in the spine, hips and knees. Break up your trip into segments. Take 5-10 minute stretch breaks. Use a lumbar support cushion or pillow behind the small of your low back to fill in the gap between your back and the carseat. Some vehicles have lumbar supports built in for the driver, but may not have sufficient support for all the other passengers.

Number 2-Food related Illness & Injury- You probably have heard that most accidents happen in the kitchen. Where else can you find scalding temperatures and sharp edges ready to burn and cut a hurried chef? Slow down and think as you go about the tasks of preparing your meal. Use your potholders to remove lids and take the turkey out of the oven to avoid burns. Sharpen your knife to avoid an unexpected slip. Wash your hands, your cutting board and your utensils frequently to avoid contamination and food bourne illness.

Number 3-Shopping- Protect yourself from wild and frenzied Black Friday shoppers. Spend some time in the morning performing a pre-shopping stretching routine. Start out on the floor and bring one knee toward your chest at a time stretching your hips and backside ,so you can sprint up the escalator. Next reach over your head with both arms, extend your fingertips and reach as far as you can, so you can grap that sweater off the rack. Finish up with a standing shoulder stretch- bring both hands behind your back, clasp your hands together and bring your interlaced fingers up toward your shoulderblades. You will have an easier time getting into your wallet or pocketbook- so the only strain will be on your bank account.

Have a safe Thanksgiving Holiday!