Have a safe Christmas Published Dec. 12, 2008 By Mark Rupert 92nd Air Refueling Wing ground safety manager FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The holiday season brings with it a slew of excitement and fun. Still, the potential for a hazardous event presents itself more frequently, which is why a handbag of tips and tricks to get you out of a jam may be just what you need. Here are a few things you should know this season that will help when you're in a jam, whether you're preparing a Christmas feast or you're stuck in a ditch somewhere outside of town. Roasting the bird Whether this is your first time roasting a turkey or your 40th, here are a few hints to help to make it both delicious and safe for the family. If you bought a frozen turkey, you'll need to defrost it thoroughly before cooking. Do this in the refrigerator, which may take up to two or three days depending on the weight of the bird (a good rule of thumb: 24 hours of defrost time for every five pounds of turkey). You should never thaw the bird on a countertop - no matter how clean your kitchen is; there's always a risk of bacterial contamination. When you're ready to cook the turkey, locate and remove the giblet bag. Rinse the bird, inside and out, with cold water and pat it dry with paper towels. Place the turkey breast-side up on a roasting rack set in a disposable roasting pan. The rack will keep the turkey from frying in its own juices and the disposable pan will save on cleanup. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Brush the outside of the turkey with some vegetable oil and place it in the oven. The oil, along with the high heat, seals in the bird's natural juices. Roast the turkey for 20 minutes and then reduce the temperature to 350°F. Tent a piece of aluminum foil over the breast to prevent excessive browning. Baste the bird with pan juices or chicken broth every 15 minutes and continue to cook until done (about 10 to 15 minutes per pound). Add an additional five minutes per pound if the turkey is stuffed. Sometimes as little as 10 minutes per pound will result in the juiciest turkey. When the turkey is cooked, its temperature should read 180°F. Do not rely on plastic doneness indicators or leave-in thermometers, neither are substitutes for instant-read thermometers which, when inserted into the thigh meat, will take a quick and exact reading. If you don't have a thermometer, make an incision in the skin between the thigh and breast. The juices should run clear with no trace of pink. When the turkey is done, remove it from the oven and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. This will make it easier to carve. How to safely carve a turkey Step 1: To remove one leg, pull the drumstick away and cut between the thigh and the body. Cut through the joint that connects the thighbone to back and repeat with the other leg. To separate each thigh from each drumstick, cut through joint that connects the thigh to drumstick. Step 2: Remove the wings by cutting through the joints where the wing bones are attached to the back. Carve the breast meat into thin slices. (The slices will still be attached at the bottom.) Step 3: Loosen the breast-meat slices by making a cut horizontally into the breast. To serve the remainder of the breast, cut smaller slices following the arc of the breastbone on each side of the bird. Step 4: If you want to slice the meat from the drumsticks, hold the drumstick upright, large end down. Slice the meat parallel to the bone, working the knife under the tendons. Rotate the leg as necessary for even slices. Winter driving Driving on winter roads can be a challenge. There are many hazards that cannot be avoided. Learning what to do in these situations will help decrease your chances of having an accident. Preparing for Winter Driving Some important steps n preparedness include: having your vehicle tuned up before driving on winter roads; testing the brakes, battery and exhaust system; checking fluid levels, adding antifreeze and switching to winter-weight oil. Be sure to put snow tires on and carry emergency equipment. Emergency equipment should include sand or kitty litter, salt, a shovel, chains, a snow scraper or brush, booster cables, blankets and a flashlight. Skids The primary problem faced by winter drivers is skidding on slick or icy roadways. If your car should skid, do not brake. Instead, take your foot off the accelerator and turn your car in the direction that you want the front wheels to go. Use gentle, steady motions when turning the steering wheel. Turning too much or too fast can worsen the situation. If for any reason you are unable to gain control of your car, try steering into a snow bank to stop your vehicle. Getting Stuck If you find yourself stuck, here are some things to try. Do not continue to spin the wheels; it will only make things worse. Pour sand, salt or gravel around the drive wheels to give them something to grab onto and improve traction. Also, shovel snow away from the wheels and out from under the car to clear a pathway. Hazardous Driving Conditions When driving conditions are less than ideal, it pays to be cautious. Drive slowly, test your brakes often and never tailgate. Turn on your lights and make sure that windshields (front and rear) are clear and that wipers and defrosters are in good working condition. Use low gears when traveling on slick surfaces (especially hills) for added traction. Listen to weather forecasts, and if weather and visibility are hazardous, stay at home. Many hazardous driving conditions cannot be avoided, but knowing what to do may prevent an accident and save a life. For highway information in Washington State, including mountain pass information, visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/ or call 511. What Is 511? Real time traffic and weather information is available by simply dialing 511 from most phones. The system builds upon the highly successful Washington State Highway hotline previously accessed through 1-800 toll free numbers. Updated every few minutes, 511 allows callers to get a variety of information, such as: · Puget Sound traffic conditions · Statewide construction & incident information · Mountain pass conditions · State's ferry system information · 800 numbers for passenger rail and airlines · Weather · Connection to Oregon's 511 system How does it work? Dial 511 and say "traffic" to receive customized traffic information. Next say the road number, such as "5," and receive up-to-the-minute updates on the road segment you plan to use. State-of-the-art speech recognition technology allows callers to verbally tell the system what they want, such as traffic or mountain pass information. The requested information is then spoken back to the user. Callers can use key words to quickly navigate the system to the specific road segment for the information sought. What does it cost to call 511? · Land line: free. · Cell phone: counts against minutes, so it is "free" unless you exceed your allocation. · Pay phone: must pay the local call rate; however, most pay phones do not work with 511. Use the toll-free number 1-800-695-7623 (ROAD).