As Thanksgiving approaches, remember to use added caution when celebrating the holiday. Thanksgiving Day is the most common day for home cooking fires to occur, followed by the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
The are an average of 2,300 home fires on Thanksgiving Day each year, according to the US Fire Administration. That’s more than three times as many that occur during a typical day of the year. The leading cause of these fires is unattended cooking.
Even if you aren’t going to be at home, there is still a risk: burglary. It’s important to do what you can to thwart any thieves.
To make sure that Thanksgiving doesn’t turn into the Nightmare before Christmas, consider the following:
Kitchen safety
Safety in the kitchen is very important, especially on Thanksgiving Day when there is a lot of activity and people at home. Follow these tips:
- Before you start cooking, test the batteries in your smoke alarms— just in case a recipe goes wrong.
- Never leave the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop. Some types of cooking, especially those that involve frying or sautéing with oil, need continuous attention.
- When cooking a turkey, remain at home and check it regularly.
- Turkey fryers increase your risk of burn or fire hazards. Be sure the oil used to fry the turkey is the right temperature, and always fry outside in a well-ventilated area.
- Make use of timers to keep track of cooking times, particularly for foods that take longer to cook.
- Keep things that can catch fire — like oven mitts, wooden utensils, food wrappers and towels — at least 3 feet away from the cooking area.
- Avoid long sleeves and hanging fabrics that can come in contact with a heat source.
- Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover because the fire could start again. Let the pan cool for a long time. Never throw water or use a fire extinguisher on the fire.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Only open the door once you’re confident the fire is completely out, standing to the side as you do so. If you have any doubts or concerns, contact the fire department for assistance.
- Keep children at least 3 feet away from the stove. Kids should also stay away from hot foods and liquids, as steam or splash from these items could cause severe burns.
Anti-burglary tips if you’re traveling
If you are traveling for the holiday, protect your home while you’re away to reduce the risk of burglary. Consider:
Installing a home security system — Many modern systems have a number of features to give you peace of mind. They can alert you if a burglar enters your home and some services can also alert local law enforcement.
Some systems offer round-the-clock fire monitoring services or allow you to you check in from your smartphone or laptop while you are away.
Don’t post your travel plans on social media — Even if you don’t make your posts public, you should still be cautious about posting your travel plans for all your contacts to see.
Making your home look occupied — To make it seem like someone is still home, set your lights on timers and stop all mail and newspaper delivery.
Making life hard for burglars — To ensure that breaking into your home isn’t easy:
- Lock all windows, gates and doors.
- Install sensor lights that turn on if they sense motion.
- Never leave a key hidden outside, like under a rock or the mat. Leave it with a neighbor you trust instead.
- Make sure the garage door is locked.