10 Thanksgiving Safety Tips

For many families, Thanksgiving is a highly-anticipated holiday that allows loved ones to come together and reflect on the many things for which they are thankful. Although Thanksgiving is full of food and fun, compared to the average day it is also filled with a more dangerous factor – fires. Unfortunately, more than 4,000 fires occur every Thanksgiving, which is more than double the number of fires that break out on an average day, according to the American Red Cross. With an increased amount of activity in the kitchen, it’s especially important to keep safety in mind on this holiday. Use the following 10 Thanksgiving safety tips we’ve put together to help keep your family’s Thanksgiving Day fun and fire free.

• Before you begin cooking, test your smoke alarms to make sure they are functioning properly.
• Always remain in the kitchen while cooking on your stove. With so many dishes cooking at the same time, you’ll need to be able to check on and stir food frequently.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing while cooking. It’s best to wear tight-fitted clothing with short sleeves and secure long hair to prevent it from getting in the way and catching fire.
• While cooking, be sure that potholders, food wrappers, and any other flammable items have been placed at least several feet away from heat sources.
• Turn all pan handles inward while cooking to avoid bumping into these dishes and spilling hot liquids.
• Remain home the entire time your turkey is in the oven and be sure to check on it regularly. To help keep track of your turkey’s cooking time, along with other dishes that may require extended time on the stove, it’s a good idea to set timers.
• If young children are in attendance, make sure they remain supervised and at least three feet away from the stove at all times. Not only will the oven be extremely hot, but steam and splashes from food cooking on the stove could cause burns. The same can be said for any curious pets that might make their way into the kitchen on Thanksgiving.
• Check your kitchen for knives and other sharp objects, and be sure you’ve placed them out of the reach of children. It’s also a good idea to make sure there aren’t cords from any of your appliances dangling off the counter.
• When you’ve completed your work in the kitchen, make sure you haven’t forgotten to turn off your oven, burners and all other appliances.
• Have you decorated your home with candles? If so, conduct a walkthrough of your home after your guests have departed to extinguish all flames.

Thanksgiving is wonderful holiday that for many families, creates fun memories and gets everyone in the holiday spirit. Keeping our 10 Thanksgiving safety tips in mind in the kitchen will help you prevent unexpected accidents from getting in the way of your holiday. At Hunkin & Eaton Insurance Agency, the safety of you and your loved ones is important to us. For additional safety tips and useful information, please contact us, read our blog, or visit us online at: www.hunkins-eaton.com.

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