City of San Antonio Shares Tips for a Safe Thanksgiving

Published on November 26, 2024

SAN ANTONIO (November 26, 2024) – While many prepare to travel, gather with friends and family, and eat delicious food this week, the City of San Antonio shares these tips to ensure a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving holiday.

San Antonio International Airport (SAT): Travel Smarter and Safer

• Reserve. Before arriving, travelers can guarantee a parking spot in the garages or economy green lot. 
• Check TSA Guidelines. Familiarize yourself with the rules on liquids, food, and electronics to avoid delays.
• Be early. SAT recommends passengers arrive two hours before boarding for Fly Away Valet or parking. 
• Connect. Metropolis Drive In, Drive Out will make holiday travel smoother. Upon arrival, passengers will scan a QR code and connect their license plate to their method of payment, and quickly pay for parking via the Metropolis app.
• Use Bags™ Curbside Concierge. If parking in the garages, passengers can check their bags at the tunnel connecting the short-term garage to the terminal and bypass the airline ticket counters.

For more information about the new parking and check-in services, visit the airport’s website.

Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health): Keep Your Thanksgiving Feast Safe

Metro Health reminds residents to prioritize food safety this Thanksgiving. For more information, visit CDC.gov.

• Thaw Safely. Never thaw at room temperature. Thaw frozen turkeys in the refrigerator, in cold water (changed every 30 minutes), or in the microwave. Food thawed in cold water or in the microwave should be cooked immediately.
• Cook Thoroughly. Ensure turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F in all parts. Use a food thermometer to check.
• Avoid Cross-Contamination. Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces thoroughly after handling raw turkey and other ingredients.
• Store Leftovers Promptly. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within two hours to prevent foodborne illness.

Animal Care Services: Keep Pets and People Safe

• Keep Thanksgiving food out of your pet's reach. In addition to the obvious choking hazard from the holiday bird, traditional Turkey Day offerings can cause upset stomach and diarrhea in your pet. 
• Create a safe space for your pet. Holiday gatherings can be stressful for pets. The noise, coupled with unfamiliar faces, can lead to aggressive behavior. Giving your pet a safe place to relax away from the feast can make everyone feel more comfortable.
• Play with your pet. A tired pet is less likely to do something off-limits. A good play session before the guests come over can help your pet decompress and be on their best behavior.

San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD): Decorate Safely

Since many put up their tree and begin decorating on or soon after Thanksgiving, the SAFD reminds everyone that overloaded electrical outlets are a leading cause of fire in the home. As you decorate your house for the holidays, make it a safe place. Learn more at FireSafeSA.com.

• Don’t overload extension cords or outlets. Electric overloads can cause shocks and start fires. Cords should be plugged into outlets equipped with GFCIs.
• Keep pathways clear and be aware of cords. Make sure all electric cords are out of high-traffic pathways and areas. Do not run cords through doorways or hide them under rugs or carpets.
• Protect children and pets. Do not let children or pets play with light strands or electrical decorations

Office of Sustainability: Consider Greener Options

• Skip the disposables. By using reusable plates, cups and silverware, you’ll save money, too. 
• Don’t overbuy. To prevent food waste, communicate what dishes are being made to prevent duplicates, plan portions carefully, and don’t prepare way too much. 
• Compost your food scraps. Take advantage of the City’s green cart program and toss your coffee grounds, potato, carrot and other vegetable peels in the green cart. See additional tips on trash and recycling from Solid Waste Management.

Solid Waste Management: Know Your Carts and Disposable Materials

These items DO go in my blue recycling cart.

• Cardboard boxes from online shipping
• Plain wrapping paper
• Empty plastic bottles and jugs
• Empty glass bottles and jars 
• Empty tin and aluminum cans

These items DON’T go in my blue recycling cart.

• Styrofoam packing from inside shipping boxes
• Foil or glitter wrapping paper
• Plastic bags, not even if they are bundled together
• Mirror glass or glass ornaments
• Any other type of metal besides tin and aluminum cans
• Anything that can tangle, such as cords, string, strands of lights, wire hangers and hoses

These items DON’T go in my brown trash cart

• Batteries of any kind. Instead, they should be taken to Household Hazardous Waste.
• Coals from the grill 
• Ashes from the fireplace
• Candles from the mantle

Note: With more of everything at the holidays, remember not to overstuff your brown cart. Call for an additional out-of-cycle- collection through 3-1-1.

These items DO go in my green recycling cart

• Tree limbs
• Live poinsettias and amaryllis
• Food scraps to make compost
• If you have any confusion about the green cart, remember: ‘If a worm can eat it – green it!’

These items DON’T go in my green recycling cart

• Tree stands, lights and ornaments, wreaths, garlands with florist wire
• Plastic pots that poinsettias and other plants come in