Many St. Lawrence County residents will travel to spend their Thanksgiving holiday with loved ones, and the American Red Cross is offering steps to follow to help make sure it is a safe holiday season.

The holiday also means a lot of time spent in the kitchen, so there are tips cooks can use to avoid a fire while whipping up Thanksgiving dinner.

"The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest times of the year for travelers, and we want to make sure everyone remains safe especially if the weather turns bad this week," said Burgundy Magoon, Preparedness Specialist for the American Red Cross Eastern New York Region. "Cooking is the number one cause of home fires, and we've seen an increase in local fire responses this month, so we also have information cooks can follow to stay safe in the kitchen."

Travel safety:

If plans include driving, travelers should check the weather along their route and plan for travel around any storms that may be coming. Everyone should use their seat belts and no one should drink and drive. Drivers should be well rested and alert and give their full attention to the road - no cell phones. Other driving safety tips include:

Follow the rules of the road - observe the speed limit.

Use caution in work zones.

Make frequent stops. During long trips, rotate drivers.

Don't follow another vehicle too closely.

Clean your headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows to help you see, especially at night.

Turn your headlights on as dusk approaches, or if you are using your windshield wipers due to inclement weather.

Cooking safety:

Cooks should avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while preparing the holiday meal. Never leave the stove unattended - if the cook has to leave the kitchen even for a short time, they should turn off the stove. More cooking safety steps are:

Check food regularly.

Use a timer as a reminder that the stove or oven is on.

Keep children and pets away from the cooking area.

Keep anything that can catch fire - pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains-away from the stove, oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.

Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.

Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen.

Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all stoves, ovens, and small appliances are turned off.

"People can also download the Red Cross First Aid App to have information at their fingertips if an emergency occurs," said Magoon.

Find out more about all of the Red Cross apps at redcross.org/apps.