Thanksgiving – that time of year when everyone prepares to burst their waistbands. It is a time for family and friends to get together and enjoy some wonderful food and fellowship. It is also the “leading day for home fires involving cooking equipment,” according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This day is followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve for number of fires in the home due to cooking. While I could find no statistics to show the number of injuries actually increase on this holiday, the fact is the day is full of instances where personal safety is at risk.
No one wants to take a trip to the emergency room over the holiday so make preparations now. Have a plan in mind to deal with everything that goes into the day.
To stay safe, the NFPA recommends the following safety tips:
- Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food.
- Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
- Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay 3 feet away.
- Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
- Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
- Keep knives out of the reach of children.
- Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
- Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
- Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
- Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
NFPA Thanksgiving Fire Safety Tips
You can also download these tips from here »
The Red Cross also has a list of cooking safety tips. Many of them are listed above, but here are some additional ones.
Additional Safety Tips
- Use a timer as a reminder that the stove or oven is on.
- 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.
- Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all stoves, ovens, and small appliances are turned off.
Everyone deserves to be happy and safe over the holiday. Do your part to make that happen. From ICC Compliance Center’s family to yours, I wish you a “Happy Thanksgiving”.
