Don’t Get Burned By that Bird, and Other Thanksgiving Safety Tips
The holidays can present some unique kitchen safety issues, from novices trying to fry a huge turkey to twenty extra people gathering in your house. Residential fires are more than twice as likely to happen on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year. Here are a few Thanksgiving safety tips so you don’t get “burned by that bird!”
Game Plan
Before the stress of houseguests and Turkey Day cooking gets going, make a game plan to help prevent accidents or hazards caused by holiday chaos. Making lists ahead of time of what needs to be cooked, cleaned and arranged not only makes a more enjoyable holiday for the host, but can also help get your day back on track when things don’t go as planned.
Smoke Detecting
Working smoke detectors are important any time of year. With the distractions and extra activity during the holidays, effective safety equipment is even more important. Check out our blog post on cleaning, testing and maintaining your smoke detectors to keep them in optimal working order.
The Absent Chef
A hot stove should never be left unattended. This may mean turning off the fire while you answer the door, or better yet, enlisting a guest to answer the door for you. If any food prep is also happening outdoors, like frying a turkey, make sure someone is in charge of each cooking location. A responsible adult should always monitor hot stoves, ovens, grills or fryers.
Turkey Tips
Frying a turkey adds additional danger as a frozen or wet bird can create just the right elements to cause an explosion. Make sure not to overfill the fryer before lowering in the turkey to prevent the scalding oil from overflowing. The turkey should be completely thawed and dried off before cooking. And if a fire does ignite, never use water to try to extinguish it. Have a fire extinguisher handy and be ready to call 911 as soon as it starts.
Flammable Fabrics
Decorative turkey dishtowels and fun aprons make a festive atmosphere but keep them far from cooking elements. Fabrics can easily catch fire near hot stoves. Other flammable items may include hot pads, long sleeves and even your hair! Any lit candles should be extinguished when leaving the room where they are burning.
Littles Ones Underfoot
Keep small children and pets away from hot stoves or flames, perhaps even out of the cooking area altogether. Not only can they be tripping hazards, but they might also bring in toys or other items that can make someone fall.
We at Cultris Security wish you a happy, healthy and SAFE Thanksgiving! Please contact us for any of your fire safety, alarm, monitoring or access control needs. We look forward to hearing from you!
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