Thanksgiving Safety: Common Medical Emergencies and What to Do

By BVAC Rescue Response Training Center • November 12, 2025

Thanksgiving brings family and food — and sometimes preventable medical emergencies. Learn the most common holiday incidents (burns, choking, allergic reactions, heart attacks, food poisoning, and alcohol-related issues) and simple, life-saving steps you can take.

Why Thanksgiving Has More Emergencies Than Other Holidays

With busy kitchens, lots of distracted helpers, large meals, and travel, Thanksgiving sees a measurable rise in injuries and medical calls. The good news: many of these situations are preventable — and knowing what to do helps.

Burns & Cuts — The Most Common Thanksgiving Emergency

Burns

Hot pans, steam, boiling liquids, and turkey grease cause a spike in burns on Thanksgiving.

What to do:

Run the burn under cool running water for 10–20 minutes.
Do not apply butter, ice, or toothpaste.
Cover with a clean, non-stick bandage. Seek medical care for deep, blistered, white, or charred burns.

Cuts

Sharp knives + distractions = lacerations. Keep your cutting area clear and focused.

What to do:

Apply firm direct pressure with a clean towel to stop bleeding.
Rinse and bandage superficial cuts. If bleeding won’t stop after 10 minutes of pressure, seek urgent care or the ER.

Choking During Holiday Meals

Large bites, talking or laughing while chewing, and older adults or small children increase choking risk.

Signs: inability to speak or cough, weak breathing, hands clutching throat.
What to do: If they cannot cough or breathe give them 5 back blows, perform the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts) for adults, children and infants. for infants, alternate 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts. If you’re not trained, call 911 immediately and follow dispatcher instructions.

Severe Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis)

Hidden ingredients — nuts, shellfish, dairy, or eggs — can cause life-threatening reactions.

Signs: swelling (face, lips), trouble breathing, hives, fainting.
What to do: Use an EpiPen immediately if available, then call 911. Even if symptoms improve, medical evaluation is essential.

Heart Attacks Spike on Thanksgiving Weekend

Heavy meals, stress, alcohol, and cold weather contribute to increased cardiac events during the holiday.

Warning signs: chest pressure, pain in arms/jaw/back, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating.
What to do: Call 911 immediately. Keep the person calm and seated. If they become unresponsive and are not breathing, start CPR and use an AED if available.

Food Poisoning: Turkey & Leftover Safety

Improper handling of turkey and other foods causes many Thanksgiving illnesses.

Food safety checklist:

Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking.
Reheat leftovers to 165°F (74°C).
Avoid cross-contamination: use separate cutting boards for raw meat and produce.

Alcohol-Related Emergencies

Thanksgiving Eve and the holiday weekend can see increased alcohol-related incidents.

Signs of alcohol poisoning: confusion, vomiting, slow or irregular breathing, pale/blue skin.
What to do: Call 911. Keep the person on their side to protect the airway and monitor breathing until help arrives.

Prevention & Training — The Best Preparation

Knowledge replaces panic. Take courses so you can act confidently when seconds matter.

AHA BLS / CPR & AED Training
First Aid & Stop the Bleed
Choking & Heimlich training

Thanksgiving should be about family, gratitude, and safe memories. A few precautions, basic first-aid knowledge, and CPR training can help keep everyone safe — and in an emergency, you might be the person who saves a life.

BVAC Rescue Blog, News & Interesting Articles

News, Events and Stories