A few years ago, my husband and I were driving to a vacation spot when we stopped at a buffet restaurant along the way — one of a national chain — for dinner. Seven hours later, I thought I was going to die. I spent most of that vacation in our hotel room, a victim of food poisoning.

Contaminated chicken was the culprit that turned a vacation into a bad experience but holiday turkey can do the same if it’s not prepared, served, or stored properly. It’s not just turkey that can turn a holiday celebration into an emergency trip to the hospital — or worse. Any improperly prepared foods can do the same.

According to an Associated Press article, more than 76 million Americans suffer from food-borne illnesses each year, and 5,000 die. Here are a couple good, eye-opening, articles that everyone needs to read: Preventing Food-Borne Illness and Avoid Illnesses Over the Holidays. And that turkey? Here are tips for proper preparation to avoid a holiday disaster.