According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires. In fact, in 2019, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,400 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving. With proper planning and a cautious eye, families can do their part to ensure that this holiday stays joyous from start to finish. Avoid common mistakes with these Thanksgiving safety tips:
DO
Inspect fire alarms before Thanksgiving. Batteries should be replaced once a year, and each fire alarm should be tested once a month to ensure it still works as intended. Before Thanksgiving, test your fire alarms to make sure they can alert you if anything goes wrong during the holiday.
Check food regularly while you cook. Use timers to remind you when certain items should be inspected and when others are finished cooking, especially if you’re working on multiple dishes at once.
Keep children away from the cooking area.
Clean surfaces regularly to reduce grease buildup. An accumulation of grease could help ignite a fire if one breaks out.
Keep a fire extinguisher nearby. If a fire does break out, having a fire extinguisher nearby to douse the flames quickly can save you from significant loss and destruction.
Make sure all cooking equipment is turned off at the end of the day, including ovens, stoves, fryers, small appliances, and any other items you used to prepare your dishes.
DON’T
Never leave cooking food unattended. When frying, grilling, boiling, or baking, it’s crucial to stay in the kitchen until the food is finished. That way, if an accident happens or fire does break out, you can react quickly to minimize any damage. If you must leave the kitchen for a period, turn off the stove.
Never wear loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking. These items can cause spills, or even catch fire. If you will be cooking in the kitchen, wear proper clothing.
Never keep anything that can catch fire near the stove, oven, or other heat-generating appliance, including pot holders, oven mitts, food packaging, and wooden utensils.
TURKEY FRYER SAFETY TIPS
Follow all instructions on your turkey fryer. They can be extremely dangerous if misused.
Never overfill the oil in a turkey fryer.
Always be sure the turkey has been properly and thoroughly thawed.
Do not stuff a turkey that you intend to deep fry.
Never use a turkey fryer inside unless it's specifically designed for indoor use.
Never use a turkey fryer on a wooden deck or patio, which can easily catch fire.
Fry turkeys in flat, open environments, away from trees, buildings, overhangs, and tripping hazards.
Keep children and pets away from your turkey fryer at all times.
Turn the burner off when putting your turkey in or taking it out of the fryer.
Never use ice to cool hot oil – oil and water don't mix!
Wear safety goggles and heavy-duty mitts while frying.
Don't touch the sides of a hot fryer without protection.
Always have an all-purpose or grease fire extinguisher nearby when frying.
By keeping these cooking safety tips in mind, you can help avoid any accidents this Thanksgiving. If you need our services this holiday season, remember that we are here for you 24/7/365 as the leading provider of disaster restoration services in the Champaign area. Call us at 217-619-0312.
We hope you have a wonderful time with your close friends and family during this holiday season!
