Did you know that Thanksgiving is a peak day for cooking fires? Cooking was the leading cause of all Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, for each year from 2017-2019, an estimated average of 2,300 residential building fires were reported to fire departments in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day. Unattended cooking was by far the leading cause in cooling fire and fire deaths.
Here are the Top 10 Safety Tips from the National Fire Protection Agency to consider on Thanksgiving day (and every day):
- Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top 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 three 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 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.
- Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
- Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
Many injuries occur when trying to extinguish the fire. Here is some important information:
Steps to put out a grease fire:
1. Turn off the source of heat (burner / element)
2. Do NOT pour water on it
3. Attempt to remove all oxygen from the flame i.e. cover the fire with another pot or baking pan
4.. If unable to be covered, dump baking soda on the fire
To for more cooking safety tips click here: https://www.nfpa.org/-/
