Salisbury Fire Department

~~Thanksgiving Day Safety

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. So keeping fire safety at the  top of your mind in the kitchen 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 family feast, remember, by following a few simple safety tips you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family safer from fire.

* 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
   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.

According to the NFPA, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.  Unattended cooking is by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.  Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and associated civilian injuries is the third leading cause of home fire deaths.

Many people love to utilize propane-operated turkey fryers that utilize cooking oil.  The finished turkey is crispy on the outside, and traps the juices on the inside, making for a delicious end product.  However, these fryers are extremely dangerous and, if used, should be treated with the utmost respect.  Substantial quantities of cooking oil utilized at extremely high temperatures pose significant risks for home users.  Any spilled oil can quickly be ignited by the propane burners used to heat the oil and pose not only a fire risk, but an extreme burn risk to anyone in proximity.  Extreme caution should be exercised when using a propane-fired turkey fryer.  Never use one inside of any structure, including garages.  The NFPA recommends utilizing “oil-less” turkey fryers if fried turkey is your preferred method of cooking a bird. 

For more information, visit http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/seasonal/thanksgiving-safety

From our family, to yours, have a SAFE and Happy Thanksgiving!!!