Safety First Before the Feast

11/5/2020 (Permalink)

Safety Before the Feast

Each November, families gather to celebrate Thanksgiving by preparing a delicious feast, but if you don’t practice safe cooking habits, your happy holiday could quickly become hazardous in a blink of an eye. According to the NFPA, cooking is the main cause of home fires and injuries, with the Thanksgiving holiday being the peak day for cooking-related fire emergencies. Review the following safety tips to help ensure a safe holiday.

• Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, or broiling food.
• Check food regularly while cooking and remain in the home while kitchen equipment is in use. Use a timer as a reminder that the stove or oven is on.
• Keep small children away from the cooking area. Enforce a “kid free zone” and make them stay at least three feet away from the stove or oven.
• Keep anything flammable like potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging and towels away from the stove, oven or other appliances in the kitchen that generate heat.
• Do no wear loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
• Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease build up.
• Purchase a fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen year-round.

We want to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving and holiday season.