Don’t be a Turkey on Thanksgiving

Guess which single day of the year has the highest number of cooking-related fires in the home? Well, if you read the title of the column, you would be correct if you guessed that it is Thanksgiving. It’s No. 1 by a long shot – three times the national average of fires per day, according to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association. But don’t scrap the idea of cooking this Thanksgiving and break out the peanut butter and jelly; just spend a few minutes putting safety on the menu.

Cooking fires are the No. 1 cause of home fires and related injuries. The annual average is 155,400 home fires per year involving cooking equipment, resulting in nearly 400 civilian fire deaths, nearly 5,000 injuries and more than $770 million in direct property damage. Remember, the highest number of these fires happen Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving can be overwhelming for so many people. With guests coming in for a family gathering, multiple items cooking in the oven and on the stove, it is easy to see how some items can be overlooked. To be a safe Thanksgiving cook, take the following safety tips into account.

Keep anything that can catch fire, such as oven mitts, towels and recipes, away from the stove top. It might be convenient, but it could also be a recipe for disaster. Have children stay out of the kitchen during times of high cooking activity. This can keep distractions and trip hazards to a minimum. Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling foods. These dangerous cooking activities are not safe without supervision for any length of time. If you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the stove or have a responsible adult watch over it during your absence.

When simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it at regular intervals. If you do step out of the kitchen, set a timer on the stove to remind you to check back often. These cooking activities are less dangerous and usually allow you to step away for short periods of time.

If a fire does break out, get everyone out of the house. Some move fast and others are not quite so fast, so the early warning is best. Close doors behind you to help contain the fire and call 9-1-1 once outside of the home.

If you are prepared to fight the fire, give the order for everyone to leave and keep a clear path at your back in case you have to leave in a hurry. Keep lids near the cooking area so you can easily slide them over the pan with your oven mitt or gloved hand. Turn off the heat to the stove and leave the pan alone while you assess the damage. If the fire is in an oven, turn off the heat to the unit and keep the door closed.

Safe cooking habits are contagious, so pass them on to others in your home who assist with the cooking detail. Let them know where fire extinguishers are kept and where the lids are on the counter. Enjoy your dinner.

Source: http://www.hometownlife.com/