Thanksgiving marks the unofficial start to the holiday season and with family gatherings, parties and shopping to get done, it can all get a bit hectic. Two areas that can potentially be unsafe is cooking and shopping.

In the past several years, turkey fryers have become increasingly more popular way to prepare the Thanksgiving turkey, but the utensil does not come without risks. In years past, several homes have burned to the ground across the country when people improperly tried to deep fry a turkey.

There are a number of simple safety tips that should be followed when deep frying turkeys:

• Only use an approved turkey fryer with four legs and a built-in thermostat so proper oil temperature can be maintained. Make sure the fryer cannot tip over, a major cause of most fires.
• Fry outdoors, away from buildings and other combustible items. Never use a fryer indoors. Keep children and pets away while frying.
• Follow instructions on what size turkey should be used, how it should be cooked and what type of oil to use.
• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and dry. Do not stuff the bird and don’t forget to take out the bag of gizzards. Lower the turkey into the hot oil slowly. Never leave the fryer unattended. Wear fry gloves; regular oven mittens may not be insulated enough.
• Splashing oil can cause a flash fire and serious burns.
  While the shopping season that follows Thanksgiving is a time of good tidings, some individuals take advantage of the distractions and crowds.

Here are some tips on how to safely shop this holiday season.

Shopping at the Mall

• Shop during daylight hours when possible.
• Try to shop during less busy times.
• Don’t hang your purse from your arm. Instead hold the purse snugly under your arm or use an alternative like a fanny pack.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for purchases with a credit card instead.
• If your credit card is lost, stolen or misused, notify your credit card company immediately.
• Don’t leave shopping bags in view in your vehicle.
• Be cautious of strangers approaching you for any reason, especially in parking lots of shopping areas.
• Watch your credit card slip being filled out - and make sure it's not passed through the machine more than once. Ask for your carbon copies.
• Avoid carrying large, heavy packages that block your vision.
• Keep an eye on children. Teach children what to do in the event you get separated. The best option is to instruct your child to look for a security guard or police officer, or go to the customer service desk where people are trained to help.
• Park in a well lit area and keep your car locked at all times.

Shopping Online

• Stick with reputable businesses with contact numbers and physical addresses.
• Use secure Web sites. Sites that use encryption to protect data should display https:// rather than http:// in the address bar.
• Check your credit report and credit card balances regularly.
• Review privacy and security policies.
• Print out copies of all receipts