Thanksgiving Fire Safety

11/7/2018 (Permalink)

For most, the kitchen is the heart of the home, especially during the holidays. From testing family recipes to decorating cakes and cookies, everyone enjoys being part of the preparations. With that being said, keeping fire safety top of mind during this joyous but hectic time is important, especially when there's a lot of activity and people at home. As you start preparing your holiday schedule and organizing that large feast, remember, by following a few simple safety tips you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family safer. 

Statistics

• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
• In 2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,760 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving.
• Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and deaths.
• Cooking equipment was involved in almost half of all reported home fires and home fire injuries.

Safety Tips

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove-top.
• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
• Keep children away from the stove.
• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids.
• Keep the floor clear so you don't have any slips, trips or falls.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Be sure electric cords are not dangling off the counter.
• Keep matches and utility lighter out of reach.
• Ensure your smoke alarms are in working condition.