Thanksgiving is typically a busy and eventful time for most people. Safety and hazards are not always at the top of mind when it comes to the holiday season, but it’s important to remember to keep everyone safe when it comes to the festivities. The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) offers some great tips to keep those around you safe from fire dangers and other hazards this holiday season.
They include:
- Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye on the food.
- Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
- Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay three 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 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 a room with a lit candle.
- Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks, or bags.
- Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
The NFPA website also lists some facts related to fires during the holiday season.
- Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked second and third, with both having nearly twice the daily average.
- Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
- Cooking causes half (49 percent) of all reported home fires and more than two of every five (42 percent) home fire injuries, and it is the second leading cause of home fire deaths (20 percent).
When it comes to your holiday season, make sure to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from the dangers of cooking fires and other hazards. One final tip: Having a portable fire extinguisher close at hand can dramatically improve your odds of stopping a fire before it gets out of control.
Happy Thanksgiving from LVC Companies!
For more information on Fire Safety this holiday season, visit the NFPA’s website here.
